Dental Assistant - Pediatrics

Lightwave Dental Management LLC; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightwave Dental Management LLC is seeking a Pediatric Dental Assistant to ensure each patient receives outstanding, individualized care at every treatment. The role involves chairside assistance, patient education, and efficient clinic workflow to support 12–15+ patients daily in a pediatric setting.

The ideal candidate has dental x-ray certification, proven experience, and strong communication, organization, and computer skills to maintain records and assist with payments.

Qualifications

• Dental x-ray certification is required.
• Proven experience as a dental assistant.
• Knowledge of dental instruments and sterilization methods.
• Understanding of health & safety regulations.
• Ability to perform coronal polishing is a plus.
• Good computer skills are expected.
• Excellent communication and people skills are essential.
• Attention to detail is a must.
• Well-organized and reliable.
• High school diploma; dental assistant school is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early for team morning meeting and day start.
• Welcome patients to the office with a positive energy.
• Prepare patients for treatments ensuring comfort.
• Ensure excellent patient experience and on-time scheduling.
• Interact with families and remember patient details over time.
• Serve as chairside assistant in all aspects of pediatric dentistry.
• Demonstrate dental terminology for chart notes.
• Use practice management software for scheduling and telephones when needed.
• Maintain accurate patient records and assist with payments.
• Efficiently run the chair to see 12–15+ patients per day.
• Provide oral hygiene and post-operative instructions.
• Keep the dental room clean and well-stocked.

Skills

Excellent communication and people

Good computer skills

Attention to detail

Well-organized and reliable

Education

High school diploma; dental assistant school preferred

Dental x-ray certification

Job description

Position Summary:

The job of a pediatric dental assistant is to ensure that each patient consistently receives outstanding, individualized service at each treatment appointment.

Responsibilities:

• Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of each clinical day engaged and ready to participate in team morning meeting
• Welcome patients to the dental office with a smile and positive energy
• Prepare patients for treatments or checkups ensuring their comfort
• Ensure that patients have an excellent experience by providing care in a patient-friendly environment. This includes bringing patients back on time for their scheduled appointment and greeting and acknowledging each patient by name at the treatment appointment
• The goal of the assistant is to, over time, get to know the patients and interact with families on an individual level (i.e. team member remembers things about each patient)
• Serve as chairside clinical assistant, demonstrating proficiency in all areas of pediatric dental assisting including, but not limited to: photographs, x-rays, assist the dentist through 4-handed dentistry, select and set up instruments, equipment and material needed, any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by the doctor
• Demonstrate proficiency in dental language and terminology such that clinical assistant can type chart notes using the terms and abbreviations used by the practice
• Demonstrate proficiency in practice management software such that assistant can schedule appointments and cover telephones to help the administrative team when necessary
• Maintain accurate patient records and assist with payment procedures
• Efficiently run clinical chair to see 12-15+ patients per day in a timely manner
• Provide instructions to patients/parents throughout dental treatment
• Sterilize instruments according to regulations via cold sterile, dry-heat, and autoclave methods and undertake lab tasks as instructed
• Work with other team members, both clinical and administrative, to help the day run smoothly
• Provide oral hygiene and post-operative care instructions
• Keep the dental room clean and well-stocked

Qualifications:

• Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates)
• Dental x-ray certification
• Proven experience as dental assistant
• Knowledge of dental instruments and sterilization methods
• Understanding of health & safety regulations
• Ability to perform regulated non-surgical tasks like coronal polishing is a plus
• Good computer skills
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Attention to detail
• Well-organized and reliable
• High school diploma; graduating from dental assistant school is preferred