Dental Assistant/UKHC

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

The University of Kentucky HealthCare is seeking a Dental Assistant to support high-quality patient care by preparing patients and treatment areas, assisting chairside during procedures, and maintaining accurate records in Epic.

You will sterilize instruments, set up operatories, manage supplies, and provide expanded care duties including coronal polishing and radiography. Focus on patient education, empathy, and teamwork in a fast-paced dental clinic.

Qualifications

• BLS certification required, able to obtain by transition date.
• Coronal polishing and dental radiography certificates required or eligible within 6 months of hire.
• Previous dentistry or dental assistant experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentists during procedures and prepare treatment areas.
• Sterilize instruments and manage operatory setup and supplies.
• Educate patients on procedures and oral hygiene, document visits in Epic.

Skills

BLS Certification

Coronal Polishing

Dental X-ray Certification

Tools

Epic

Job description

Click here for more information about equivalencies:

Required License/Registration/Certification

Basic Life Support ( BLS ) at time of hire through the American Heart Association ( AHA ); must obtain Coronal Polishing and Dental X-ray competencies within 6 months of hire.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements for this position include regularly sitting, standing, walking, with some pushing, pulling, and/or lifting objects weighing up to 10lbs and occasional pushing, pulling, and/or lifting objects up to 50lbs.

Shift

Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm

Job Summary

The Dental Assistant supports the delivery of high-quality dental care by assisting dentists and ensuring patients have a positive experience throughout their visit. This role involves preparing patients and treatment areas for procedures, assisting chairside during dental treatments, and maintaining accurate patient records in Epic. The Dental Assistant performs essential clinical tasks such as sterilizing instruments, setting up operatories, managing supplies, and providing expanded care duties, including coronal polishing and radiography.
In addition to clinical responsibilities, this position plays a key role in patient education by explaining procedures, promoting oral hygiene practices, and addressing patient questions with professionalism and empathy. The Dental Assistant contributes to the smooth daily operation of the clinic through teamwork, adherence to infection-control protocols, and compliance with University and UK HealthCare policies. Service excellence and care coordination are integral parts of the role, requiring respectful communication, confidentiality, and collaboration with colleagues to ensure efficient, compassionate, and patient-centered care.

This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus: $3000 for new graduates for 0.9 Full Time Employment ( FTE ) classification roles or higher only, and 0.6 Full Time Employment ( FTE ) classification roles or higher with 12 months of experience. Contingent on a 12-month employment commitment. Further details will be discussed during the hiring process.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Radiography and Coronal Polishing; two-handed and four-handed dentistry.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

Previous experience in dentistry or dental assistant roles preferred.

Deadline to Apply

Deadline to Apply 11/05/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a current BLS (Basic Life Support) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA), or are you eligible to obtain this by date of transition into the Dental Assistant/UKHC job title?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have current Coronal Polishing and Dental X-ray and certificates, or are you eligible to obtain these 6 months of hire into the Dental Assistant/UKHC job title?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Please indicate your paid employment experience in dental assisting.
  • None
  • More than 0, up through 1 year
  • More than 1 year, up through 3 years
  • More than 3 years, up through 5 years
  • More than 5 years