PS Dental Assistant

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah School of Dentistry seeks a PS Dental Assistant to support dental students and faculty at Wakara Way Clinic in Salt Lake City. You will assist with routine, restorative and surgical procedures, manage instruments, and supervise orientation for new students while maintaining equipment and clinic protocol.

You will work in a patient-centered environment, upholding HIPAA and safety standards, and collaborating with dental teams to deliver high-quality care to the community.

Qualifications

• Completion of Dental Assistant Course and one year chair-side experience or equivalency.
• Radiology Safety and Health exam completed or to be completed within six months of hire.
• Basic Life Support Health Care Provider card or obtained within one month of hire.
• Excellent human relations and effective communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Assist students and attending dentists with procedures by preparing, identifying, and providing instruments.
• Order, organize, and restock supplies.
• Perform routine cleaning, stocking, and equipment maintenance.
• Assist in chairside procedures and radiology positioning.
• Disinfect, sterilize, and reprocess instruments and equipment.
• Adhere to OSHA, HIPAA, FERPA, CODA and department standards.
• Maintain sterilization records and inventory reports.
• Provide technical support to students and faculty.
• Participate in clinic policy and quality assurance discussions.
• Assist in orientation and training of dental students on clinic procedures.
• Track clinic procedures and enter data as needed.
• Contribute to committee discussions regarding clinic operations.
• Support the mission and PROMISE standards of the university.

Skills

Active listening

Communication skills

Empathy

Professional demeanor

Infection control

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Independent work

Education

Dental Assistant Course

Chair-side experience (1 year)

Radiology Safety exam

BLS (Healthcare Provider)

Job description

Details

Open Date09/11/2026Requisition NumberPRN46202BJob TitlePS Dental AssistantWorking TitlePS Dental Assistant- Wakara Dental ClinicCareer Progression TrackUGRTrack LevelFLSA CodeNonexemptPatient Sensitive Job Code?YesStandard Hours per Week40Full Time or Part Time?Full TimeShiftDayWork Schedule SummaryMonday – Friday 8am to 5pm. Hours may vary depending on clinic needs. VP AreaU of U Health - AcademicsDepartment01478 - SOD - EDUCATIONLocationCampusCitySalt Lake City, UTType of RecruitmentExternal PostingPay Rate Range$18.59 - 24.20Close Date12/11/2026Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)Job TitlePS Dental Assistant

Job Summary

This position will be located at the Wakara Way Clinic, where the University of Utah School of Dentistry provides care to local residents. This position assists dental students and attending dentists with routine as well as restorative and surgical procedures. The incumbent maintains and operates equipment and instruments under the direction of the department, and provides initial orientation for dental students. This position may be required to access and administer medications within its scope of practice and according to State Law. Care is appropriate to the population served.
As a member of the School of Dentistry team, you are expected to form positive and productive relationships with peers, students, and leadership to support the mission, vision, values, and PROMISE standards of the organization. You are expected to encourage and foster a supportive and compassionate environment for all patients, students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve.

Responsibilities

Disclaimer:
This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job. Employees may be required to assist in other areas of the clinic as needed.
Essential Functions:
1. Assisting student and attending dentists with procedures by preparing, identifying, and/or providing appropriate instruments.
2. Ordering, organizing, and restocking supplies.
3. Performing routine cleaning, stocking, and equipment maintenance including but not limited to changing traps, maintaining water unit levels, cleaning chair bases, stocking supplies, and printing and stocking clinic forms.
4. Assisting student dentists with the preparation of procedures, chairside assisting, and radiology positioning and technique.
5. Disinfecting, lubricating, washing, wrapping, and sterilizing instruments, cassettes, and equipment for clinic use.
6. Adhering to manufacturer and CDC guidelines for reprocessing instruments and equipment.
7. Maintaining sterilization records and inventory reports.
8. Providing technical support to students and faculty.
9. Acting to ensure proper infection control, clinic policies, and processes are followed.
10. Assisting in the tracking of clinic procedures through maintaining and/or entering data.
11. Assisting in the orientation, education, and training of dental students on clinic procedures and protocols.
12. Adhering to standards set by OSHA, HIPAA, FERPA, CODA and other standards set by the department.
13. Participating and contributing in committees and discussions regarding clinic operations, materials, protocols, and/or quality assurance.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Demonstrated potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful or difficult situations.
• Ability to provide care appropriate to the patient demographic served.
• Ability to display active listening and verbalize empathy while developing relationships with patients, guests and coworkers.
• Ability to provide care as detailed in the department’s policies and procedures manual.
• Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational and follow-through skills.
• Ability to be highly motivated and pay attention to detail with a passion to provide excellent patient care in a fast paced and evolving environment.
• Ability to work efficiently and independently.
• Demonstrated computer skills and an ability and willingness to learn new applications and software, procedures and processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of HIPAA regulations to ensure that patient information is guarded and respected.
• Ability to navigate a facility with multiple providers and services.

Problem Solving:

• This position requires daily problem-solving skills and multi-tasking.
• Able to maintain professional demeanor in stressful or difficult situations.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of Dental Assistant Course and one year chair-side experience or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Successful completion of Radiology Safety and Health exam or complete within six months of hire. Basic Life Support Health Care Provider card or obtained within one month of hire. Excellent human relations and effective communication skills also required.
* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated requirements. We protect our patients, coworkers, and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

• Applicable dental assistance experience preferred.
• Epic experience preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

TypeBenefited StaffSpecial Instructions SummaryAdditional Information

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.