Lead Dental Assistant

UCFS Healthcare; Bean Hill (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Yearly performance merit increases

Gain-share program

Local and online discounts

401(k) plan + 6% employer contribution

Employer paid life & disability

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Employee assistance program

Wellness programs

Decompression spaces

Generous PTO (3 weeks) and holidays

Employee-led committees; loan-repay/PS

Career path ladders

Employer paid learning & development

Appreciation, education, and team‑bond

Job summary

UCFS Healthcare in Eastern CT is seeking a Lead Dental Assistant to provide chairside care and lead the dental assistant team. You will supervise staff, ensure infection control, and manage instrument processing to support safe, patient-centered care.

The role requires five years of dental assisting experience, an accredited program, and CT radiology/infection-control certifications. Schedule is full-time, Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm, on-site in Connecticut.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; associate degree preferred.
• Completion of an accredited Dental Assisting program.
• At least five years of dental assisting experience including chairside procedures, radiography, sterilization, and infection prevention.

Responsibilities

• Provides chair-side dental assisting and direct patient care for ~75% of time; covers clinical on-call as needed.
• Supervises, coaches, and supports Dental Assistants including onboarding, training, and evaluations.
• Assigns and coordinates daily clinical tasks to maintain patient flow and consistent, patient-centered care.
• Monitors adherence to infection prevention, sterilization, radiology, and safety standards; conducts inspections.
• Maintains clinical records for sterilization monitoring and equipment/instrument processing.
• Ensures operatories are prepared with current forms, education materials, instruments, and supplies.
• Ensures Dental Assistants process, package, route, and document dental laboratory cases.
• Models respectful teamwork and reinforces high-quality, patient-centered clinical practice.
• Performs other clinically related duties as assigned to support patient care.

Skills

Chairside dental assisting

Dental radiography

Infection prevention

Coaching/leadership

Clinical documentation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Accredited Dental Assisting program

Associate degree preferred

Job description

Description

UCFS strives to use person-centered care to improve the health and well-being of everyone in our community. Share in our vision of being Eastern CT’s best choice for patient-centered healthcare!

Expected Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours/week; Monday through Friday, 8:00am- 4:30pm

The Lead Dental Assistant provides chairside dental assisting and direct patient care for approximately 75% of scheduled time while serving as a clinical resource and leader for the dental assistant team. The position provides direct supervision to Dental Assistants, promotes consistent standards of patient care, ensures compliance with infection prevention, sterilization, and dental safety protocols, and provides coverage for staff absences to support safe, efficient, patient-centered care.

Outline of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides chair-side dental assisting and direct patient care for approximately 75% of scheduled time and provides clinical coverage as needed.
• supervises, coaches, and supports Dental Assistants, including clinical onboarding, training, competency development, performance feedback, and participation in hiring and evaluations.
• Assigns and coordinates daily clinical responsibilities to support appropriate patient flow, timely documentation, and consistent, patient-centered care.
• Monitors adherence to infection prevention, sterilization, radiology, and clinical safety standards; conducts dental infection-control inspections and addresses identified concerns.
• Maintains required clinical records related to sterilization monitoring, equipment and instrument processing, and expiration dates for dental materials and sterile supplies.
• Ensures operatories are prepared with current clinical forms, patient education materials, instruments, and supplies needed for safe patient care.
• Ensures Dental Assistants appropriately process, package, route, and document dental laboratory cases.
• Models respectful, inclusive teamwork and reinforces high-quality, patient-centered clinical practice.
• Performs other clinically related duties as assigned to support patient care and the dental team.
• Regularly meets with and provides guidance to Dental Assistants; communicates staffing, training, and performance concerns to the Dental Director as needed.
• oversees sterilization operations and monitors compliance with established sterilization procedures, infection prevention standards, and instrument processing protocols.

Why UCFS?

Our team is passionate about the services we provide and is committed to making a difference for our clients and community. At UCFS, a Federally Qualified Health Center, we specialize in integrated care which means having access to essential services to meet the complex needs of those we serve. We work collaboratively across programs at our agency to remove barriers and streamline access to services including behavioral health services, primary care, dental, case management and more. If you are committed to improving the health and well-being of our community, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree preferred.
• Completion of an accredited Dental Assisting program required.
• At least five years of dental assisting experience, including demonstrated knowledge of chairside procedures, dental radiography, instrument processing, sterilization, and infection prevention.
• At least one year of experience coaching, training, or leading Dental Assistants.
• Minimum Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
• Certification for Radiology in the State of CT
• Certification for Infection Control in the State of CT
• Minimum Skills and Abilities
• Strong knowledge of chairside dental assisting, infection prevention, sterilization, radiology safety, and clinical documentation requirements.
• Ability to coach Dental Assistants, assess clinical competencies, provide constructive feedback, and reinforce standards of care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with dentists, hygienists, Dental Assistants, residents, and other clinical staff.
• Ability to prioritize clinical needs, coordinate daily staff responsibilities, and respond effectively to changing patient-care demands.
• Commitment to respectful, inclusive, patient-centered care and effective clinical teamwork.
• Ability to use the electronic health record and other clinical systems required for patient care and documentation.

UCFS Healthcare Offers a Competitive Benefits & Perks Package to Our Hardworking Team Which Can Include:

• Financial - Yearly Performance Merit Increases; Gain Share Program; Local & Online Discounts
• Income Security - 401(k) Plan + 6% Employer Contributions; Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Health & Wellness - Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance; Employee Assistance Program; Wellness Programs; Decompression Spaces
• Time Off - Generous Paid Time Off Starting at 3 Weeks Vacation, 4 Floating Holidays, 10 Sick Days, 8 Federal Holidays
• Growth - Employee-Led Committees; NHSC Loan Repayment Opportunities; PSLF Eligibility; Career Path Ladders; Employer Paid Learning & Development Programs
• Fun - Appreciation, Education, and Team-Building Events

Automated Employment Decision Technology (AEDT) Notice (CT CART Act):

To assist our recruiting team, this application process may use the algorithmic features of LinkedIn (Candidate Fit / Top Match), and Handshake (Talent List Sorting), as well as on other platforms we may use. We use these automated technologies specifically to prioritize incoming applications, sort applicant lists, and match candidate profiles based on how closely provided skills, job history, experience, abilities align with our job criteria.

While a human recruiter reviews candidates and makes all final hiring and interview decisions, these automated platform tools serve as a material factor in our initial screening pipeline. These systems process data from your submitted resume, application, and public platform profiles. For inquiries or questions regarding the use of this technology, please contact us at [e-mail]

EEO Policy:

UCFS is strongly committed to a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting an enriching work culture, UCFS will continue to better serve our communities and provide quality patient, client, and resident care and services. UCFS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, and genetic information or disability, as defined and required by applicable state and federal laws. Additionally, UCFS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because they have engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.