Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery Clinic

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system.

Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research.

Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated.

We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

Oral Surgery Practice

Job Summary

As a Dental Assistant, you will support providers and patients throughout the surgical experience by preparing treatment rooms and equipment, obtaining patient histories and clinical information, taking radiographs and CBCT scans, assisting during procedures, maintaining sterilization and infection control standards, and ensuring efficient clinic operations.

The ideal candidate is dependable, team-oriented, and passionate about delivering exceptional patient care while contributing to a positive patient experience. Assists in preventive, therapeutic, cosmetic and other dental services with occasional guidance by a board certified Oral Surgeon..

• Position Information
• Monday - Friday
• Flexible schedule between 7am - 5:30pm
• No nights, no weekends, no holidays
• Free parking

Responsibilities

• Seating patients and preparing them for their visit
• Obtaining and documenting medical histories, vital signs, allergies, pain assessments, and other clinical information
• Preparing treatment rooms, instruments, and surgical equipment
• Taking CBCT scans and dental radiographs
• Assisting providers during procedures, including suctioning and patient support
• Turning over procedure rooms efficiently between patients
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining instruments according to infection control standards
• Stocking and organizing supplies to keep the clinic running smoothly
• Ensuring appointments stay on schedule

Escorting Patients Following Sedation Procedures

Collaborating closely with providers, nurses, and team members to deliver an exceptional patient experience

Department Summary

This clinic provides comprehensive care for patients of all ages, offering preventive, restorative, and emergency services to support lifelong oral health.

What sets Vanderbilt apart is its collaborative approach to care, working closely with medical teams to support patients preparing for surgery, cancer treatment, or radiation therapy.

As part of an academic medical center, the practice combines advanced clinical expertise with a patient-centered experience, serving everyone from community members to professional athletes, including the Nashville Predators.

Through innovative resources such as the My Health at Vanderbilt patient portal, the team is committed to delivering convenient, coordinated, and high-quality dental care.

Key Responsibilities

• Performs dental assistant duties.
• Prepares patient for procedure and/or exam.
• Provides patient with instructions.
• Maintenance and cleaning of equipment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

Technical Capabilities

• Sterilization Preparation (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate sterilization preparation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.
• Patient Documentation (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient documentation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.
• Dental Terminology (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate dental terminology in practical applications of moderate difficulty.
• Patient Exam Room Care (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient exam room care in practical applications of moderate difficulty.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Performs clearly defines tasks and methods described in detail to achieve standardized solutions that impact own performance with regular guidance. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Follows a well established process to solve routine problems where solutions are clearly prescribed. * Breadth of Knowledge: Has basic job knowledge of systems and procedures that are common to own job. * Team Interaction: Individually contributes to the team.

Core Capabilities

Delivering Excellent Services: Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner.

Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.

Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.

Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

Managing Resources Effectively: Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.

Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

Fostering Innovation: Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them. - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications

Responsibilities:

Certifications

LIC-Registered Dental Assistant - Tennessee

Work Experience

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level

Less than 1 year

Education

Graduate of an Approved Discipline Specific Program

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.