{"id":98372,"date":"2022-11-21T15:42:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T20:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/human-resources\/?page_id=98372"},"modified":"2026-06-16T13:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T17:48:55","slug":"dental-assistant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/human-resources\/professional-success\/ur-career-pathways-program\/high-demand-positions\/dental-assistant\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Assistant"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":212,"featured_media":0,"parent":97032,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/one-column.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-98372","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules_above":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"","content":"<h2>What does a Dental Assistant do?<\/h2>\r\nThe duties of the Dental Assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. These may include assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures, taking X-rays, sterilizing equipment, comforting patients during and after treatment, teaching appropriate oral hygiene, providing patients with oral care instructions following dental treatments, and performing office management tasks that often require the use of a computer.\r\n\r\nDiscover what it\u2019s like to be a dental assistant by viewing a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.careeronestop.org\/Videos\/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=31909100\"><strong>short video<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\n<em>Note: This video has been provided by the U.S. Department of Labor\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.careeronestop.org\/Videos\/CareerVideos\/career-videos.aspx\"><strong><em>careeronestop<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em>\u00a0website and the actual duties of this role at the University of Rochester may vary.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Hear from a Dental Assistant<\/strong>\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-uXLm8FNs48[\/embed]\r\n<h2>Minimum education and experience<\/h2>\r\nGraduate of a Dental Assistant Training Program.\r\n<h2>Days\/hours<\/h2>\r\nTypically regular weekday business hours.\r\n<h2>Position locations<\/h2>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/dentistry.aspx\"><strong>Eastman Dental Clinic<\/strong><\/a> and other locations around Rochester, including school-based, community clinics, and the Smile Mobile.\r\n<h2>Work environment<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Tools and Equipment:<\/strong> Work with X-ray machines, suction devices, and sterilization units in small treatment rooms, often close to patients and dentists.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Teamwork and Patient Care:<\/strong> Collaborate with dentists and hygienists while interacting directly with patients to ensure comfort and explain procedures.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Physical Demands:<\/strong> Requires standing, bending, and manual dexterity for handling instruments and assisting during treatments.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Fast-Paced and Repetitive Tasks:<\/strong> Manage back-to-back appointments, prepare exam rooms, sterilize instruments, and assist during procedures.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Safety and Infection Control:<\/strong> Follow strict protocols and use PPE (gloves, masks, eyewear) to maintain a sterile environment.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Pay range<\/h2>\r\nUse the code\u00a0<strong><em>URC 205<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to find the pay range in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/compensation\/#general-clinical\"><strong>General and Clinical University pay ranges<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0section of the University\u2019s Compensation page.\r\n\r\n<em>The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries\/hourly rates will be set within the job\u2019s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal benchmarking considerations.<\/em>\r\n<h2>Possible career pathways<\/h2>\r\nExamples of pathways within this job family at the University of Rochester:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Dental Assistant &gt; Certified Licensed Dental Assistant &gt; Lead Dental Assistant &gt; Professional or Leadership Position<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Dental Assistant &gt; Certified Licensed Dental Assistant &gt; Dental Hygienist &gt; Professional or Leadership Position<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>URCP Education Partner<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urmc.rochester.edu\/dentistry\/employment-opportunities\/dental-assistant-training-program.aspx\"><strong>URMC Dental Assistant Training Program<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"}],"sidebar":"show__sidebar","sidebar_feed":"menu_select","menu":"1292","page_links":null,"sub_menu":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"interstitial","anchor_id":"","classes":"","layout":"layout_stacked","lead-in":"","title":"<h2>Interested in becoming a Dental Assistant?<\/h2>","content":"We invest in your career advancement. Current employees may explore eligibility requirements for the UR Career Pathways program.","call_to_action":{"title":"Apply to the UR Career Pathways program\ufeff","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/human-resources\/professional-success\/ur-career-pathways-program\/urcp-application\/","target":""},"bg_color":"#ffc70a"},{"acf_fc_layout":"interstitial","anchor_id":"","classes":"","layout":"layout_inline","lead-in":"","title":"<h2 class=\"interstitial-module__title module__title h3\">Not currently an employee at the University of Rochester?<\/h2>","content":"Find a Dental Assistant and other positions available to those outside the University of Rochester.","call_to_action":{"title":"See all jobs","url":"https:\/\/rochester.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com\/UR_Staff","target":""},"bg_color":"#f4f4f4"}]},"yoast_head":"<title>Dental Assistant | Office of Human Resources<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Dental Assistant handles a range of tasks: taking x-rays, sterilizing 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