Dental Assistant - School of Dentistry

ummc; Missouri; On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

UMMC is seeking a Dental Assistant for the School of Dentistry to support professional staff and students in examination, delivery, and maintenance of oral healthcare. You will assist in supervising clinic personnel, maintain equipment, and follow established protocols.

Required is a high school diploma/GED plus completion of a Dental Assistant Program or one year of healthcare experience, with a Dental Radiology Permit and CPR/BLS within 30 days.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED and completion of a Dental Assistant Program or 1 year healthcare experience.
• Dental Assistant Radiology Permit and Basic Life Support within 30 days.
• Knowledge of dental procedures, sterile technique, and radiography.

Responsibilities

• Provides chairside assistance to dentists and hygienists during procedures.
• Prepares patients, sterilizes instruments, sets up trays, and prepares materials.
• Maintains duty schedules and supervises clinical personnel across sites.
• Assists in teaching four-handed dentistry to students.
• Processes radiographs and maintains dental equipment and safety standards.

Skills

Dental procedures

Sterile technique

Radiographs

Patient communication

Team supervision

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Dental Assistant Program or 1 year healthcare experience

Job description

Job Requisition ID:

R00050995

Job Category:

Allied Health

Organization:

SOD - Clinical Affairs - Ambulatory Director

Location/s:

Main Campus Jackson

Job Title:

Dental Assistant - School of Dentistry

Job Summary:

To assist professional dental staff and students in the examination, delivery, and maintenance of oral healthcare. To assist in the supervision of clinic personnel. To maintain dental equipment and supplies in accordance with established protocols, procedures, policies, and standards.

Education & Experience

Education and Experience Required:

High School Diploma/GED and successful completion of Dental Assistant Program or one (1) year of healthcare experience.

Certifications, Licenses, or Registration

required

Dental Assistant Radiology Permit from the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners. Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association or CPR from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association required within 30 days.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of dental procedures and protocols. Knowledge of sterile procedures. Knowledge of radiation safety procedures, standards, and protocols. Verbal and written communication skills. Ability to set up and prepare dental equipment and instrumentation. Ability to develop and process dental radiographs. Ability to alleviate patient anxiety.

Responsibilities

• Provides chairside assistance to dentists and/or dental hygienists in the performance of dental procedures.
• Prepares patients; sterilizes and disinfects instruments; sets up instrument trays; and prepares materials.
• Maintains duty schedules; monitors and supervises the performance of clinical personnel at remote sites, within residency programs, or across multiple clinic disciplines; and/or performs specialized assignments and tasks.
• Assists in teaching dental students, dental assisting students, and dental hygiene students the principles of four-handed dentistry and dental assistant utilization.
• Processes radiographs. Monitors and maintains dental equipment such as compressors, evacuator systems, radiographic developing equipment, sterilizers, and light-curing units.
• Instructs patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs. Maintains safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Requires frequent exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, frequent handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, frequent exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, frequent bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds, frequent crouching/stooping, occasional kneeling, occasional pushing/pulling, constant reaching, constant sitting, frequent standing, frequent twisting, and occasional walking. (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more)

Time Type:

Full time

FLSA Designation/Job Exempt:

No

Pay Class:

Hourly

FTE %:

100

Work Shift:

Benefits Eligibility:

Grant Funded:

Job Posting Date:

09/4/2026

Job Closing Date (open until filled if no date specified):