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Req #: 247783

Department: SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

Posting Date: 07/11/2025

Closing Info:

Closes On 07/25/2025

Salary: $5,006 - $7,165 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes:

As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-summary-classified-staff-greater-than-half-time-20220908\_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The School of Dentistry has an outstanding opportunity for a Hospital Dentistry Assistant Specialist to join their team.** **POSITION PURPOSE

The Department of Oral Medicine houses the Dental Education in the Care of Persons with Disabilities (DECOD) Program. The DECOD Program is a leader in the field of oral health care for patients with disabilities. Goals of the DECOD Program include: 1) improve the oral health of patients and contribute to their well-being and oral function; 2) improve access to oral health care for persons with disabilities by educating and training an oral health workforce; and 3) promote research, outreach, and interprofessional education, and practice related to special care dentistry. Our core values include compassion and respect for our patients, high moral and ethical standards, and a commitment to evidence-based and technically excellent clinical practices. We serve a diverse patient population and are equally committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace.

The Hospital Dental Assistant Specialist (HDA) will perform duties within the scope of standard and expanded duties of a dental assistant in ambulatory care, rehabilitation and assisted living settings. The HDA assists dentists, dental residents, students and fellows to provide dental care to medically compromised or special needs patients, such as those with severe mental disabilities. This position also includes facilitating care for patients with disabilities, geriatric patients, and other patients with special health care needs, and individually tailoring support appropriate to each patient’s unique needs. Providing culturally appropriate care to this diverse population is an essential component of the care provided.

The successful candidate will have training with patients with disabilities or special health care needs, or 6 months to 1 year experience with patients with disabilities or special needs in oral health/dentistry or other fields; and demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The HDA will support the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Take and record vital signs. Review health history with patients, caregivers and guardians. Assist with documentation in patients’ electronic health records. Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement for clinic and off-site/outreach programs. Take, process, and mount radiographs (including digital radiographs) such as pan, oblique lateral jaw x-rays, other extra oral and intraoral supportive images, individual x- rays of the full mouth.

• Attach monitors including pulse oximeter, automated blood pressure device, and other medical devices; monitor and record blood pressure, temperature, and pulse and pulse oximeter readings.

• Assist in various four-handed techniques, including assisting in the treatment of patients with disabilities, geriatric patients, and patients with other special health care needs, including persons with physical, medical, developmental, or cognitive conditions which limit their ability to receive routine dental care.

• Instruct patients in oral hygiene; monitor patient’s condition following procedures; instruct medically compromised special needs patients in home care procedures and the use of specialized dental devices.

• Facilitate care of patients through the appropriate use of behavioral, pharmacological, physical and mechanical supports, including medical immobilization and protective stabilization using least restrictive alternative protocols.

• Potentially assist in the provision of care on-site and off-site outreach programs.

• Educate students and other learners on the scope of hospital dental assistants and dental assisting techniques in the delivery of patient care.

• Orient new staff, students and other learners regarding clinic procedures and policies.

• Maintain clinic equipment and supplies.

• Clean and sterilize equipment.

• Order and maintain inventory of supplies.

• May coordinate support activities in a dental clinic, such as arrange and schedule patient appointments, assign patients to students/trainees, maintain patient records; monitor patient flow, and assist in the management of multiple operatories simultaneously; verify presence of medical records, x-rays, and laboratory cases prior to scheduled appointments; and assist patients with wheelchair or gurney transfer.

• Record research data.

• May provide information to department regarding clinic services.

• Perform related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Current certification as a dental assistant (CDA) or the ability to obtain same within six months; AND three years of experience as a dental assistant in a general practice setting and one year of experience in specialty practice (such as endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, or hospital dentistry).

_Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration._ **LEGAL/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS**

Registration with the State of Washington as a Dental Assistant

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.