Dental Assistant IV - Oral Biology - College of Dentistry

University of Illinois Chicago•Chicago, IL

6d•$66,000 - $74,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Assistant IV supports the Associate Director of the Oral Medicine & Orofacial Pain Clinic in a supervisory support role. The position oversees daily clinic operations and coordinates clinical and front desk administrative services, including patient communication, appointment scheduling, registration, and patient record maintenance. It also supports faculty scheduling, coordinates patient care, and provides chairside assistance as needed. When the Associate Director is absent, the position assumes supervisory responsibility for clinic operations and staff support. The role is based on-site in Chicago, Illinois, and works Monday through Friday for 40 hours per week on the day shift. The annual salary range is $66,000–$74,000, commensurate with experience. Illinois residency is required within 180 days of employment. The position is intended to be eligible for benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Requirements

Three years (36 months) of work experience in dental assisting comparable to the Dental Assistant III level, or experience as an expanded-function dental assistant or oral health counselor.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing compassionate, professional patient service in a specialty clinical environment, including communicating with patients who may need additional time, reassurance, education, and care coordination.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff, faculty, and patients.
Ability to handle multiple demands and frequent interruptions while maintaining a professional demeanor.
Ability to organize work and determine priorities.
Interpersonal skills to interact sensitively and effectively with young, elderly, traumatized, and handicapped patients from varied cultural backgrounds.
Organizational skills to enforce clinic policies by following established procedures.
Basic math skills to screen patient accounts and perform cashiering.
Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software.
Ability to learn patient management software and accurately enter and retrieve patient information, scheduling data, notes, and scanned documents.
Knowledge of dental and medical terminology, materials, and procedures.
Ability to maintain accurate patient and appointment information and reports.
Knowledge of sterile techniques and infection control procedures.
Experience managing or ordering inventory, overseeing clinic operations, and knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and oversee daily clinical and front desk operations, supporting patient flow, scheduling, faculty support, and continuity of care.
Manage clinic administrative functions, including patient registration, appointment scheduling, medical record maintenance, insurance verification, prior authorizations, billing support, payment collection, and correspondence through EPIC, MyChart, email, and telephone.
Maintain faculty and student rotation schedules, organize daily clinic activities, and adjust patient schedules as needed.
Serve as the primary point of contact for patients, providers, pharmacies, insurance companies, and referring offices; address inquiries, coordinate services, and resolve operational and patient service concerns.
Monitor clinic inventory, equipment, supplies, purchasing, and vendor transactions to support clinic operations and regulatory compliance.
Provide chairside assistance as needed, including preparing treatment rooms, obtaining medical histories and vital signs, taking radiographs, assisting with clinical procedures, and coordinating laboratory cases and dental appliances.
Ensure compliance with infection control, sterilization, HIPAA, OSHA, and other clinical safety standards while maintaining a clean and organized clinical environment.
In the Associate Director’s absence, guide support staff and dental students, coordinate clinic operations, and serve as a liaison among faculty, students, and patients.
Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.