Lead Dental Assistant: Clinic Ops & Team Lead

MedNorth Health Center; Kirkland (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

MedNorth Health Center in Wilmington, NC seeks a Lead Dental Assistant to coordinate daily clinical operations across 12 operatories, provide chair-side support, and lead the dental assisting team under the Dental Director.

You will ensure infection prevention, manage supplies and instrument processing, mentor staff, and maintain accurate documentation while supporting high-quality patient care in a busy FQHC setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Dental assisting credentials appropriate to the position.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Dental assisting experience demonstrating proficiency in chairside assisting, sterilization, infection prevention, and clinical workflows.
• Knowledge of dental terminology, instruments, materials, equipment, and clinical procedures.
• Working knowledge of OSHA, HIPAA, infection prevention, and applicable North Carolina dental requirements.
• Basic computer skills and ability to use electronic dental records and related systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily clinical readiness across 12 operatories.
• Ensure operatories are stocked, equipped, cleaned, and prepared before appointments.
• Monitor patient flow and help reduce avoidable clinical delays.
• Coordinate dental assistant assignments and coverage with the Dental Director and Front Dental Office Manager.
• Provide chair-side assistance to dentists and hygienists as needed.
• Support room turnover and standardize setup for common procedures.
• Coordinate a clinical runner function for sterilization, instrument delivery, and related workflow support.

Skills

Chairside assisting

Infection prevention

Team leadership

Quality assurance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Dental assisting credentials

CPR certification

Tools

X-ray equipment

Dental EHR software

Sterilization equipment

Job description

MedNorth Health Center in Wilmington, NC seeks a Lead Dental Assistant to coordinate daily clinical operations across 12 operatories, provide chair-side support, and lead the dental assisting team under the Dental Director.

You will ensure infection prevention, manage supplies and instrument processing, mentor staff, and maintain accurate documentation while supporting high-quality patient care in a busy FQHC setting.