Lead Dental Assistant

MEDNORTH HEALTH CENTER•Wilmington, NC

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Dental Assistant coordinates and supports daily clinical operations in MedNorth Health Center’s 12-operatory dental department. The role provides chair-side assistance as needed while leading day-to-day clinical workflow, supporting the dental assisting team, maintaining operatory and equipment readiness, and promoting consistent infection prevention and quality assurance practices. The position works under the direction of the Dental Director and collaborates with the Front Dental Office Manager to support efficient patient flow and coordinated department operations. It is primarily focused on clinical operations. The Lead Dental Assistant provides day-to-day clinical guidance to dental assistants, helps coordinate assignments and coverage, assists with onboarding and training, and supports competency assessments. The role monitors sterilization, infection prevention, safety, inventory, equipment, clinical documentation, and quality assurance practices, while coordinating with dentists and hygienists to prepare for procedures and maintain clinical workflow. The position supports a welcoming, respectful, culturally responsive, patient-centered environment and the health center’s Patient Centered Medical Home model. It protects patient confidentiality and supports access to care, continuity, teamwork, and quality improvement. The Lead Dental Assistant does not independently make hiring, termination, compensation, formal disciplinary, or formal performance-management decisions unless specifically delegated; personnel actions and unresolved operational conflicts are escalated to the Dental Director or designated supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Dental assisting credentials appropriate to the position, if required by the organization or applicable law.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; the license and certification section also specifies current CPR certification.
Dental assisting experience demonstrating proficiency in chair-side assisting, sterilization, infection prevention, and clinical workflows.
Knowledge of dental terminology, instruments, materials, equipment, and clinical procedures.
Working knowledge of OSHA, HIPAA, infection prevention, and applicable North Carolina dental requirements.
Basic computer skills and ability to use electronic dental records and related systems.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to coordinate competing priorities in a busy, multi-provider environment.
Demonstrated leadership, accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Ability to coach colleagues constructively and address workflow concerns appropriately.
Attention to detail and commitment to infection prevention and patient safety.
Ability to identify operational problems and recommend practical solutions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and work effectively with a diverse patient population.
Ability to adapt to changing staffing needs and clinical demands.
Ability to understand medical and dental terminology and perform accurate keyboarding.
Ability to use computers, photocopiers, facsimile machines, internet insurance eligibility systems, Dental/EHR software systems, X-ray equipment, and dental laboratory equipment.
Excellent telephone etiquette, interpersonal, customer service, teamwork, and communication skills; must treat patients, coworkers, and managers with courtesy and respect.
Cognitive reasoning, clear thinking in high-pressure situations, ability to prioritize and withstand continual work with variable requirements, concentration and accuracy despite frequent interruptions, critical thinking, organization, problem solving, and reasoning capabilities.
Ability to speak English fluently.
Meet an applicable credentialing pathway described in the posting: completion of an ADA-accredited dental assisting program with current CPR certification; one academic year or longer in an ADA-accredited dental hygiene program with current CPR certification; completion of Dental Assistant certification examination(s) administered by the Dental Assisting National Board with current CPR certification; completion of specified courses in sterilization and infection control, dental office emergencies, and coronal polishing with current CPR certification; or qualifying full-time chair-side assisting experience of two years (3,000 hours) during the preceding five years.
Radiographs may be taken after completing radiology training consistent with G.S. 90-29(c)(12).
Attend work daily and on time, report absences according to personnel policies, complete work accurately, neatly, thoroughly, and on time, be dependable and cooperative, act professionally, follow safety standards, participate in staff meetings, and maintain confidentiality.
Meet the physical requirements of standing, walking, talking, hearing, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, performing repetitive tasks, reaching, bending, lifting supplies within organizational guidelines, wearing required PPE, and occasionally stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; frequently lift or move up to 20 pounds; and have close and color vision.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of dental assisting experience.
Previous lead dental assistant, clinical coordination, or team-training experience.
Experience in an FQHC, community health center, or high-volume dental practice.
Experience supporting multiple dentists and dental hygienists.
Experience with sterilization monitoring, infection prevention audits, inventory management, and clinical quality assurance.
Experience with electronic dental records and practice management systems.
Spanish or another language is a plus.

Responsibilities

Coordinate daily clinical readiness across 12 operatories, ensuring rooms are stocked, equipped, clean, and prepared before appointments.
Monitor patient flow, help reduce avoidable clinical delays, coordinate dental assistant assignments and coverage, and provide chair-side assistance to dentists and hygienists as needed within training and authorized scope.
Support room turnover, standardize setups for common procedures, and coordinate a clinical runner function when staffing permits.
Identify staffing or operational barriers and communicate concerns promptly to the Dental Director.
Provide day-to-day clinical guidance to dental assistants; help coordinate assignments, breaks, and coverage; assist with onboarding, orientation, and training; coach staff; and identify training needs and performance concerns for escalation.
Support competency assessments and skills validation as assigned, and promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and respectful communication.
Monitor compliance with infection prevention and instrument processing procedures, including cleaning, packaging, sterilization, storage, handling, indicators, logs, maintenance records, and separation of contaminated and clean instruments.
Monitor PPE, hand hygiene, surface disinfection, and instrument processing requirements; promptly report sterilization failures, exposure incidents, equipment malfunctions, and infection prevention concerns.
Assist with infection control audits, safety inspections, and corrective action plans.
Monitor clinical inventory and supply par levels, coordinate restocking, monitor clinical equipment condition and availability, coordinate routine maintenance, and report repair needs.
Maintain organized storage, sterilization, and supply areas; monitor expiration dates and storage; help minimize waste; and assist the Dental Director in evaluating products, supplies, and equipment.
Promote accurate, timely clinical documentation within assistants’ authorized scope and monitor adherence to documentation, radiographic, sterilization, and safety protocols.
Assist with internal audits, chart reviews, quality assurance activities, clinical logs, equipment records, sterilization records, and training documentation.
Identify recurring errors and workflow deficiencies, recommend improvements, and report patient safety and potential compliance concerns through established channels.
Support compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, CDC infection prevention guidance, North Carolina dental requirements, organizational policies, and applicable HRSA requirements.
Coordinate with four dentists and three hygienists to anticipate clinical needs and maintain instrument and supply availability.
Prepare for restorative, surgical, endodontic, preventive, and other procedures within the assistant’s authorized scope; help standardize room setup, procedure trays, instrument cassettes, and clinical workflows.
Support communication between providers and the assisting team, escalate clinical concerns appropriately, and help onboard and clinically integrate new providers.
Promote a welcoming, respectful, culturally responsive, patient-centered environment; protect patient privacy and confidentiality; and support access to care for patients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Help communicate clinical delays appropriately and support a positive patient experience, quality, safety, access, and continuity of care.
Participate in daily huddles, departmental meetings, and quality improvement projects; assist with clinical protocols, checklists, training materials, and standard operating procedures.
Provide timely updates about staffing, supply shortages, sterilization concerns, equipment issues, and operational barriers; support regulatory reviews, internal audits, and site inspections.
Perform other related duties within the position’s scope and qualifications as assigned.
Work as part of the Patient Centered Medical Home team to support timely access to services, coordinated care, communication, quality improvement, and patient-focused care.
Comply with applicable law and fully cooperate with the organization’s compliance program.