Lead Dental Assistant-Pediatric Dentistry & Community Oral Health
University of Tennessee at Martin
Salary undisclosed
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Description
- Provides chair-side assistance for faculty members (oral evacuation, retraction, and instrument exchange); supplies faculty with equipment, instruments, and materials for procedures.
- Takes impressions of patients’ teeth for study casts; performs sealants, tooth cleaning, exposes radiographs, and applies fluoride to patients.
- Supervises dental assistants and coordinates clinical dental assistant staff schedules.
- Completes and pays cash/control tickets with payments received.
- Assists and guides front desk on soft skills, patient scheduling, referrals, and overall patient care skills.
- Answers multi-line phones, schedules patient appointments, and manages patient flow through the clinic.
- Cleans working area; disinfects/sterilizes instruments and equipment.
- Participates in infection control, helps establish and carry out infection control protocol.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
High School Diploma or GED. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
EXPERIENCE:
Two (2) years of experience as a Clinical Dental Assistant. Must maintain registration as a licensed dental assistant in the State of Tennessee. Nitrous Oxide Monitoring and Radiology Certification is required. (PROOF OF LICENSURE IS REQUIRED). (Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with the Dental Assistant National Board Certification (DANB) is preferred. Graduate of CODA-accredited school preferred.)
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION:
A Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in the State of Tennessee, with certification in radiology and nitrous oxide monitoring, is required. CDA (DANB) certification preferred. (PROOF OF LICENSURE IS REQUIRED)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of all areas of dental assisting as outlined by the State of Tennessee Board of Dentistry to include set up of operatory, instrument transfer, correct sequencing of instruments and dental material according to procedure.
- Ability to provide all supportive services or procedures necessary to protect the physical well-being of the patient during routine treatment procedures and during periods of emergencies, including, but not limited to physical positioning of the patient, monitoring of vital signs, assistance during administration of life-support activities, and any other non-invasive procedures deemed necessary by the supervising dentist to maintain the health and safety of the patient.
WORK SCHEDULE:
This position may occasionally be required to work weekends.
About this role
At the University of Tennessee at Martin's Memphis location, this lead role combines clinical chair-side work in pediatric dentistry with supervisory and front-office responsibilities. You'll assist faculty during procedures—managing evacuation, retraction, and instrument exchange—while also performing direct patient care including impressions, sealants, cleanings, radiographs, and fluoride applications. Beyond the operatory, you'll oversee other dental assistants' schedules, guide front desk staff on patient care and soft skills, handle phone scheduling, manage cash transactions, and maintain infection control protocols.
This position requires a current Tennessee Registered Dental Assistant license with radiology and nitrous oxide monitoring certifications, plus at least two years of clinical dental assisting experience. DANB certification (CDA) and graduation from a CODA-accredited program are preferred. You'll need solid knowledge of operatory setup, instrument sequencing, and patient safety protocols—including vital sign monitoring and emergency response. The role demands both technical competence and interpersonal skills to lead a team and coordinate patient flow in a busy clinic environment.
The position is full-time and in-office in Memphis, with occasional weekend work required. This role suits someone ready to step into a leadership position within a university setting while maintaining hands-on clinical work in pediatric care.
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Pay for this role
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