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Dental Assistant Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated 16 July 2025
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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6 min read

Your job description is the first touchpoint between your company and your new hire. With millions of people searching for jobs on Indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.

Dental Assistant job title

A great job title typically includes a general term, level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimise your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialised, consider including the specialisation in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

  • Dental Assistant
  • Entry-Level Dental Assistant
  • Paediatric Dental Assistant
  • Dental Assistant (Part-Time)
  • Orthodontic Dental Assistant

Hire your next Dental Assistant today.

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Hire your next Dental Assistant today.

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Dental Assistant Job Description Examples:

Example 1

Job Summary

The role involves:

- Chairside assisting

-Can do attitude

- Have adequate knowledge of sterilisation procedures and maintain infection control standards

- Assist with the Maintenance of stock control
- Assist with reception duties such as taking payments , answering phones and dealing with and following through with patients requests.
- Coordinating treatment plans
- Reporting and tracking of new or review patients
- Handling new patient enquiries and accounts
- Appointment book management and confirming appointments
- An ability to multi-task and prioritize workload

The successful applicant will require:

- Experience would be advantageous, but not necessary.
- Willing to enrol in Certificate III in Dental Assisting .
- Be exceptionally professional and have strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- A proven track record of punctuality and reliability and commitment to the hours and days required
- Ability to build rapport with patients while showing empathy
- Flexible with days and hours

If you believe you might be the right applicant please apply now.

Job Types: Casual, Part-time

Salary: $56,869.00 $59,908.00 per hour shift

Example 2

Job description

Baulkham Hills

Free Onsite Car Parking and Bus stop outside clinic

About Business

Fox Orthodontics is a specialised orthodontic practice that is looking for an experienced orthodontic dental assistant to work alongside our specialist orthodontist in a great location*. *Fox Orthodontics has been providing reliable orthodontic treatment for over 30 years. Conveniently located in Baulkham Hills, this professional and fun Orthodontic practice is friendly and welcoming and fastidious with maintaining the highest infection control protocol.

As an integral part of the team, the Dental Assistant will provide much needed extra pair of clinical hands Monday and Wednesday each week. Assisting the Orthodontists chair-side, this is a fast-paced position requiring a swift and efficient working style.

Job tasks and responsibilities

- Chair-side assisting of the Orthodontists and sterilizing instruments adhering to strict infection control protocols.
- Understanding patient treatment plans
- Maintaining patient records and details using Oasis
- Proficiency in computer skills including with Microsoft Office
- Outstanding customer service - naturally engaging and have a positive attitude
- Excellent communication skills to answer patient enquiries, booking patients, managing accounts, processing payments, managing patient recalls and reminders

Skills and experience

An experience in an orthodontic practice would be ideal but experience in a dental practice is a minimum requirement. Remuneration is negotiable and is based on experience within the industry.

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please submit your CV and cover letter outlining for us your experience and motivation to work in our team.

Job Type: Part-time
Part-time hours: 24 per week

Salary: $22.00 $32.00 per hour

Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    Experience:
  • Dental assistance: 1 year (Required)

    Work Authorisation:
  • Australia (Preferred)

    Application Deadline: Start Date: 04/07/2022

    • Example 3

    Qualifications & experience
  • Previous experience in a Dental Assistant role is preferred, but not essential as on-the-job training will be provided to the right candidate
  • A dedicated team player with a strong patient focus
  • Excellent professional presentation, highly developed communication and interpersonal skills
  • Proven ability to be punctual and reliable
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and phone manner
  • Have a drive to learn and flourish within the role
  • Be a self-motivated individual who takes initiative and has an eye for detail

    A dental assistant performs a variety of patient care, administrative and clinical duties, and often work under the direction of a dentist when examining and treating patients. The duties of a dental assistant include, however are not limited to, assisting a dental operator during procedures and check-ups, preparing instruments for dental procedures, cleaning and maintaining treatment rooms in accordance with infection control procedures, ensuring dental supplies are adequately stocked and providing support to administrative staff.

    KEY Duties/Responsibilities
  • Greet patients and prepare them for scheduled dental procedures; Provide assistance to the dental operator, including dentists, hygienists and therapists throughout the course of procedures including clearing the patient's mouth of saliva or dental materials used during the treatment by operating suction or other appropriate equipment. Prepare the treatment room as directed by the dental operator and ensure correct instruments and materials are available for use; Clean and sterilize the instruments prior to and after treatment; Clean the surgery and treatment room in accordance with the practice’s policies and procedures, including decontamination procedures for infection control; Provide the practice with administrative assistance, including the maintenance and re-stock of dental and office supplies; Prepare accounts and collect payments in accordance with the practice’s policies and procedures; Schedule appointments for patients and maintain detailed records of patient’s treatments; and Undertake reception and customer service duties, including, but not limited to, answering the telephone and carrying out general office duties.

    Job Type: Casual

    Pay: $25.40 – $38.64 per hour

    Expected hours: 25 – 35 per week

    Schedule:
  • Rotating roster



    Experience:
  • Dental reception: 1 year (Preferred)
  • Customer service: 1 year (Preferred)

    Work Authorisation:
  • Australia Location: In person
    • Our mission

    Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

    Read our editorial guidelines

    Dental Assistant job summary

    A great job description starts with a compelling summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is a good fit.

    Example of a Dental Assistant job summary

    Our busy dental practice is searching for a dedicated Dental Assistant who can keep the examination rooms clean and assist during patient appointments. We need someone who can perform basic dental procedures, such as cleanings and patient x-rays, and maintain complex client records with utmost confidentiality. The ideal candidate for this position has an orthodontic background and experience working with patients of all ages.

    Dental Assistant responsibilities and duties

    The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organisation and who the employee reports to.

    • Prepare examination and surgical rooms by sterilising instruments and moving equipment into place
    • Assist in updating and maintaining client dental records
    • Perform routine dental cleanings and assist in the performance of more complicated surgical procedures
    • Provide support to dentists, surgeons and staff as needed
    • Offer patients advice and materials necessary to maintain good dental health
    • Prevent the spread of infection and disease by maintaining a surgically clean work environment

    Dental Assistant qualifications and skills

    Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

    • Two-year degree in dental hygiene required
    • Successful completion of a dental assistant licensing program as per state guidelines
    • 2+ years’ experience as a Dental Assistant
    • Comprehensive understanding of dental instruments
    • Exceptional customer service skills
    • Strong knowledge of computer programs such as MS Office

    Hire your next Dental Assistant today

    Post a job

    Job Description Examples

    Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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