Dental Assistant I/II - School of Dentistry - ORTHODONTICS)

DentalFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

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Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

UTHealth Houston's School of Dentistry is seeking a Dental Assistant I (registered) or Dental Assistant II (certified) to join their team of professionals in Orthodontic Dentistry. Knowledge of Orthodontic Dentistry procedures and nomenclature is preferred. Bilingual (English/Spanish speaking) is a plus!

Location: 7500 Cambridge, Houston, Texas 77054

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

  • 100%25 paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
  • Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
  • The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
  • Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
  • Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

  • Free financial and legal counseling
  • Free mental health counseling services
  • Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
  • Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
  • Resources for child and elder care
  • Plus many more!

Position Summary

Perform routine tasks assisting the professional dental staff and residents in the examination and prophylactic, therapeutic and surgical treatment of patients. Works under direct supervision.

Position Key Accountabilities

Assists in the teaching of dental residents, in the principles of orthodontic dentistry and dental assistant utilization (DAU).

  • Provides chair side assistance to residents and faculty.
  • Maintains sterile, and prepares equipment, instruments, and supplies within working area.
  • Maintains infection control standards.
  • Maintains records of patients seen, procedures performed, materials used, and appointments.
  • Must be able to respond to emergency situations.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills

  • Basic office or computer skills.
  • Dental Assistant by Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) required

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or equivalent required Completion of a recognized dental assistant educational program preferred

Minimum Experience

None

Physical Requirements

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094.

To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position.

Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Veteran Information

Military occupations that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include but are not limited to: 003007, 001155, 002669, L35A, 4Y071H, 4Y071, 4Y0X1, 890, 001260, 18D, 4N0X1, 4A0X1, 68E.

For a complete list please visit uthealth-veterans.jobs.

Residency Requirement

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

Key Responsibilities

The dental assistant will provide chair-side support to faculty and residents during orthodontic procedures and patient examinations. They are also responsible for maintaining sterile equipment, managing patient records, and ensuring infection control standards are met.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Dental Assistant certification from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Completion of a recognized dental assistant educational program is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Dental assistancePatient records managementSterilizationEmergency responseDental nomenclature

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Dental Assistant I/II - School of Dentistry - ORTHODONTICS) at UTHealth (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Dentistry (Dental) — ranked against 1,613 active Dentistry (Dental) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Dentistry Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Work-life snapshot

median 5.7this job 6.6
Better work-life than 80% of Dentistry (Dental) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,613 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Houston

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$245k
Typical market rent
$1,542/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

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

UTHealth (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston) logo

About UTHealth (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

Business Consulting and Services
Houston, Texas
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

100% paid medical premiums
Generous time off (37-38 days/year)
Longevity pay
Retirement/pension plan
Free financial and legal counseling
Free mental health counseling
Gym membership discounts
Wellness programs