Orthodontic Assistant - Ironbridge/Mechanicsville

Virginia Family Dentistry•Richmond, VA

7d•$18 - $25

About The Position

Virginia Family Dentistry is seeking an experienced Orthodontic Assistant to join its Ironbridge/Mechanicsville team, working across two locations. The role combines clinical and administrative duties, including preparing patients for treatment, taking x-rays and impressions, changing orthodontic appliances, and educating patients about treatment and oral hygiene. The assistant works closely with doctors, employees, patients, and the wider team. This is a non-exempt, hourly position. Pay is $18–$25 per hour, based on experience. Typical hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday. Virginia Family Dentistry has served the greater Richmond area for 50 years. Its offices have individual personalities, paces, and styles, and the dentist-owned structure means decisions come directly from the doctors employees work with. The organization has multiple locations and specialties, offering opportunities for growth and career advancement. Its stated core values include providing quality care, treating everyone with respect, communicating clearly and honestly, being positive and dependable, training everyone, and leading by example.

Requirements

At least 6 months of orthodontic experience or completion of a dental assisting program.
X-ray certification.
BLS certification.
Excellent communication skills.
Time-management skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Attention to detail.
Teamwork skills.
Good hand-eye coordination and dexterity to handle small dental instruments, perform impressions, operate x-ray equipment, and work in patients' mouths.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including prolonged standing and sitting in awkward positions, repetitive hand movements, bending or twisting, and lifting or moving equipment and supplies.
Ability to assist in lifting patients from a wheelchair into the operatory chair.
Ability to see nearby details, understand another person's speech, and speak clearly.

Responsibilities

Assist the doctor chairside by passing instruments, aspirating intra-oral fluids, and mixing materials and medicaments during examinations, treatments, and procedures.
Place, change, and remove elastic orthodontic separators, arch wires, brackets, and ligature ties.
Take intra-oral measurements for orthodontic procedures.
Perform temporary cementation and remove temporary crowns and orthodontic bands.
Remove excess cement from supragingival tooth surfaces and check for loose orthodontic brackets and bands.
Adjust clear aligners and retainers and arrange repairs when necessary.
Deliver aligners, attachments, adjusted retainers, and braces using indirect bonding techniques.
Take scans for diagnostic and working models, x-rays, and impressions; prepare and take patient molds; and fabricate Essix retainers.
Prepare trays and set up and clean up for procedures.
Remove instruments and tools after use and process them for sterilization; maintain a clean and orderly sterilization area and follow infection-control protocols.
Review the doctor's schedule daily and prepare appointments with required supplies, lab cases, implants, and other items; assist with procedures and x-rays; clean rooms between patients; and keep rooms stocked.
Keep the schedule on time and notify the front desk when running behind.
Bring patients to the front desk with completed route slips and treatment plans.
Maintain a lab tracking system, ensure lab work is ready for appointments, and track the doctor's outstanding lab cases.
Assist with administrative duties as needed.
Work with the doctor scheduler on schedules and maintain the unscheduled list by following up with patients and needed treatment.
Order and unpack supplies.
Educate patients about their treatment and oral hygiene.
Work as part of the larger team and communicate effectively with doctors, employees, and patients.