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Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts

Dental Assistant - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

DentalPart-Time

Listed compensation

$20.90–$31.70 /hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

This position will be hired as a Dental Assistant or Senior Dental Assistant depending on the experience of the candidate.

The Clinical Support Services (CSS) team at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is seeking an experienced and dependable Dental Assistant to support the Oral Surgery clinical area.

This position will have Oral Surgery as the primary department assignment and will report to the CSS supervisor supporting Oral Surgery. The Dental Assistant may also provide coverage in other clinical areas based on operational needs, competency, cross-training, and patient care requirements.

What You'll Do

  • Provide four-handed dental assisting support to faculty, residents, and students in Oral Surgery.
  • Prepare treatment areas, instruments, materials, and equipment for scheduled procedures.
  • Support efficient patient flow and maintain a safe, organized clinical environment.
  • Follow established infection prevention, sterilization, and clinical safety standards.
  • Assist with oral surgery procedures and other clinical activities within the Dental Assistant’s scope of practice.
  • Maintain appropriate supplies and communicate operational needs to the CSS supervisor.
  • Provide cross-coverage in other clinical areas when needed and when appropriately trained.
  • Work collaboratively with faculty, residents, students, Dental Assistants, supervisors, and other members of the clinical team.
  • Participate in training and cross-training to support department flexibility and continuity of care.
  • Other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements

Knowledge and Experience Typically Acquired By

  • High School diploma/GED.
  • Dental Assistant: 0-2 years of experience.
  • Senior Dental Assistant: 3-5 years of experience.
  • Exhibits knowledge and proficiency with sterile technique and assisting various specialties.
  • Sound knowledge of HIPAA and OSHA compliance regarding infection control, blood borne pathogens, sterilization, and radiology.
  • Massachusetts Dental Assistant License

Special Work Schedule Requirements

This is a 35 hour per week position. Availability between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM may be required to support varying clinical schedules.

Senior Dental Assistant

  • Pay Range
  • Minimum $23.00, Midpoint $27.35, Maximum $31.70

Dental Assistant

Pay Range

Minimum $20.90, Midpoint $24.90, Maximum $28.90

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Key Responsibilities

Provide four-handed dental assisting support to faculty, residents, and students during oral surgery procedures. Maintain a safe, organized clinical environment while ensuring proper sterilization and infection prevention standards are met.

Requirements

Requires a High School diploma or GED and a Massachusetts Dental Assistant License. Candidates must possess knowledge of HIPAA and OSHA compliance, along with experience in sterile techniques and clinical assisting.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Oral Surgery SupportFour-handed DentistryHIPAA ComplianceClinical Environment Maintenance

Surgery Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$55k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $52k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Below most Dental Assistant listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 342 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Boston

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$813k
Typical market rent
$3,338/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.