Ortho Dental Assistant

About the role

We are looking for an experienced chairside Ortho Dental Assistant who shows up, takes pride in the work, and makes the day better for patients and teammates. This role goes beyond the chair: you will help patients understand their treatment, feel confident about the cost, and get on the schedule before they leave. Our offices run on full schedules, so every person on the clinical team matters every day.

What you will do

• Assist the orthodontist chairside during orthodontic procedures, ensuring efficient clinical support and an exceptional patient experience throughout treatment
• Take radiographs and impressions, and chart accurately
• Set up, break down, and turn over operatories on schedule
• Sterilize instruments and follow OSHA and infection control standards
• Present treatment plans and explain the doctor’s recommendations in plain language, so patients understand what they need and why
• Discuss fees, insurance estimates, and payment or financing options with patients, and help them say yes to the care they need
• Schedule the patient’s next visit while they are still in the chair, so no one leaves without an appointment
• Confirm upcoming appointments by phone and text to keep the schedule full and reduce no-shows
• Fill openings and cancellations, and follow up on unscheduled treatment
• Coordinate the handoff with the front desk so nothing falls through the cracks
• Support teammates wherever the day needs you

What we need from you

• Reliability. Regular, predictable, on-time attendance for your full scheduled shift is an essential function of this job. Patients and providers are counting on you.
• Presence. This is a hands-on, in-person role. You are engaged, focused on the patient in your chair, and off your phone during patient care.
• A good attitude. You stay positive and professional on busy days, take feedback well, and treat patients and coworkers with respect.
• Team first. You jump in without being asked, communicate openly, and help the whole office succeed.
• Comfort with money conversations. You can talk about cost clearly and confidently, without pressure and without avoiding it.
• Ownership of the schedule. You schedule from the chair, confirm ahead, and treat an open slot or a patient leaving without an appointment as a problem to solve.
• Professional presentation. Because we work inches from our patients, we hold a high standard for personal hygiene, grooming, and clean scrubs every shift.

Qualifications

• 1-3+ years of chairside dental assisting experience
• Experience presenting treatment plans and discussing financial arrangements with patients
• Experience scheduling treatment chairside, confirming appointments, and managing a provider schedule
• Working knowledge of dental insurance and procedure terminology
• Radiography certification / state-required credentials: NC
• Current CPR/BLS, or willing to obtain it
• Experience with Denticon practice management software is a plus
• Able to perform the physical requirements of chairside work, with or without reasonable accommodation

Physical requirements

The following are essential to chairside assisting and must be met with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Sit or stand for extended periods, often 4 or more hours at a time, in a chairside position
• Bend, lean, twist, and reach over patients repeatedly throughout the day
• Use both hands with fine motor control and steady grip to pass instruments, suction, mix materials, and take impressions
• Perform repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements for the length of a procedure1
• See clearly at close range, including small detail, depth, and color (for shade matching and reading radiographs)
• Hear and respond to the dentist and patients while wearing a mask and working around equipment noise
• Speak clearly to give instructions and explain treatment to patients
• Lift, carry, and move supplies and equipment up to 25 pounds
• Move quickly between operatories, sterilization, and the front office throughout the shift
• Wear required protective equipment (mask, gloves, eyewear, gown) for the full shift
• Maintain professional appearance and personal hygiene standards appropriate for close patient contact, including avoiding strong odors and fragrances
• Work with exposure to blood, saliva, radiation, disinfectants, and dental materials, following safety protocols

Our hiring process

• Phone screen, then an in-office working interview
• We contact prior employers for references , including questions about attendance, dependability, and teamwork. Please be ready to provide at least two supervisor references.
• Offers are contingent on satisfactory reference and background checks
• New team members complete a 90-day introductory period

What we offer

• Medical, dental, vision / PTO / 401(k)