Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery
Listed compensation
$24-$28/hr
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
We are seeking a highly skilled, dependable, and patient-focused Oral Surgery Dental Assistant to join our growing oral and maxillofacial surgery team. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience assisting with oral surgical procedures, a strong understanding of surgical protocols, and the ability to provide exceptional patient care in a fast-paced clinical environment.
Schedule (days/hours)
monday-friday 6am-2pm
Responsibilities
Assist oral surgeons during surgical procedures, including extractions, wisdom teeth removal, dental implant placement, bone grafting, and other oral surgery procedures.
- Prepare surgical operatories, instruments, equipment, and materials before procedures.
- Maintain sterile technique and adhere to infection control and OSHA standards.
- Assist with nitrous oxide administration and IV sedation procedures within applicable state regulations and authorized scope of practice.
- Monitor and document patient vital signs before, during, and after procedures as directed.
- Assist with patient preparation, positioning, and postoperative recovery.
- Take diagnostic dental radiographs, including panoramic and CBCT imaging, as authorized.
- Properly clean, sterilize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
Qualifications
Previous experience as an Oral Surgery Dental Assistant, preferably in an oral and maxillofacial surgery practice.
Meet all state-specific dental assistant credentialing requirements for the duties assigned in the state of employment
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Current nitrous oxide certification
- Current IV certification
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Knowledge of dental terminology, infection control protocols, and OSHA/HIPAA standards
- Knowledge of surgical instrumentation, sterile techniques, and infection prevention.
- Experience assisting with IV sedation and monitoring patients during surgical procedures.
- Proficiency in dental radiography and digital imaging.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented clinical environment.
- Strong communication and commitment to excellent patient care
Preferred Qualifications
- 2+ years of oral surgery assisting experience.
- Experience with dental implant surgery, bone grafting, and complex extractions.
- Dental assisting credentials such as RDA or applicable state-recognized certifications.
- Experience with electronic dental records and practice management software.
- Additional anesthesia monitoring or surgical assisting training.
Compensation
$24.00 - $28.00 per hour
About Us
Benefits are determined by employment status/hours worked and include paid time off (“PTO”), health, dental, vision, health savings account, telemedicine, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability insurance, employee discount programs, pet insurance, and a 401k plan.
Smile Brands supports over 650 affiliated dental practices across 28 states all focused on a single mission of delivering Smiles For Everyone!® Smiles for patients, providers, employees, and community partners. Everyone. Our growing portfolio of affiliated dental brands and practice models range from large regional brands to uniquely branded local practices. This role is associated with the affiliated dental office listed at the top of the job posting on our career site.
Smile Brands Inc. and all Affiliates are Equal Opportunity Employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), protected hair style and texture (The CROWN Act), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
If you would like to request an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at careers@smilebrands.com
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Surgery Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $56k in an average-cost state. 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 10 · above average in dental assistant | ranked against 342 Dental Assistant listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $50k–$58k | Dental Assistant median $48k (middle half $46k–$49k)12 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$56k in purchasing power | Texas index 97.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Dental Assistant listings in Texas | 452 active | 5,716 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Texas healthcare professional listings: 23% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 2% offer loan repayment452 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Surgery listings | 818 in the last 30 days | 489 the 30 days before (+67%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery at Smile Brands a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Dental Assistant — ranked against 342 active Dental Assistant listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
Location & Logistics
Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$54k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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