Dental assistants help with administrative office tasks, keep the office and schedule organized, assist with chairside dental procedures, take X-ray images, and improve dentist patients’ experiences. If you’re looking to hire a dental assistant, it’s important to have a great job post.
Being clear about your expectations and requirements, having a detailed job description, and listing reasons your office is a great place to work can help draw the best assistants to your office.
In this guide, we provide you with a dental assistant job description template, go over what should be included in each section, and more.
Dental Assistant Job Description Template
Job Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic dental assistant to join our dental office. Our team prides itself on maintaining a positive work environment, providing excellent customer service, and cooperating well as a team.
A dental assistant works under the direction of a dentist in a clinical setting to provide high-quality care and service to patients. They work as members of the healthcare team to help patients receive the care they need for dental cleanings, acute conditions, and chronic tooth problems.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Prepare the office to open for the day
- Schedule appointments
- Sent appointment reminders
- Manage billing and payments
- Organize patient payment plans
- Submit records for insurance reimbursement
- Keep supplies stocked and organized
- Maintain healthcare records
- Take x-ray images
- Measure vital signs
- Assist with chairside procedures
- Sterilize equipment
- Apply fluoride
Education
- High school diploma or GED
- X-ray safety certification
- CPR certification
- CDA or RDA certification
Experience
- 1 year of experience preferred
Skills
- Great verbal and written communication
- Organization
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to lift 15lbs
- Manual dexterity
Languages
- English
- Spanish speaking eligible for a pay increase
Work Hours
- Monday through Friday
- 7 am to 6 pm
- Full-time and part-time positions are available
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Employee discount on dental cleanings and procedures
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Dental assistant certification reimbursement
- Retirement plan
Explaining What to Include in Each Section of a Dental Assistant Job Post
A job posting for a dental assistant should make expectations clear and act as an advertisement for your dental office. Including enough information ensures that candidates understand your expectations and get a feeling for what their day-to-day will look like if they are hired.
Having an accurate dental assistant job description can help you hire the right kind of person, only interview people who are qualified for the position, and reduce turnover in the future.
Duties & Responsibilities
To create a dental assistant duties and responsibilities section, think about a day in your dental office from start to finish. Imagine all of the tasks that you will expect your future dental assistant to participate in, and list them here.
If your dental assistant will be expected to clean the office at the end of the day or pick up lunch for everyone in the office, make sure you include those things in your listing.
While a job listing should be written in a way that encourages people to apply, you do not want new employees to be surprised by the tasks they are expected to complete after they are hired.
Education
Most offices require dental assistants to have a high school diploma or equivalent. If you want to require any kind of certifications, list them here.
Some states require specific certifications for dental assistants, especially for those who will be taking X-rays or performing advanced skills like coronal polishing.
Experience
Experienced employees are often easier to onboard into your office, understand professional norms, and have greater expertise than those who are brand-new to the profession.
However, offices that are willing to hire staff with little to no experience may save money and give you more control over the culture of your office.
Think about the benefits and disadvantages of only allowing experienced candidates to apply for your posted position.
Skills
Job listing should include both soft skills and hard skills. Most dental assistants can learn hard skills on the job, but it is harder to teach things like cooperation and hard work.
Check out our guide to dental assistant skills for more ideas on what to include here.
Languages
Depending on the location of your office, you may want to offer an incentive for bilingual staff to apply for your dental assisting job.
Work Hours
Be extremely clear about expectations for working hours. This is the place to disclose whether or not you will accept part-time or full-time applicants and if you require assistants to work during weekends or evenings.
Benefits
About 22% of job seekers apply for a job based on the type of benefits offered by the employer. Include details about benefits offered through your office, including any unique benefits like free continuing education or reimbursement for certification.
