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How to hire a lead dental assistant

Lead dental assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring lead dental assistants in the United States:

  • There are currently 295,781 lead dental assistants in the US, as well as 31,588 job openings.
  • Lead dental assistants are in the highest demand in Fort Wayne, IN, with 4 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a lead dental assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new lead dental assistant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a lead dental assistant, step by step

To hire a lead dental assistant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a lead dental assistant:

Here's a step-by-step lead dental assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a lead dental assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead dental assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your lead dental assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a lead dental assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect lead dental assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of lead dental assistants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Lead Dental AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Lead Dental AssistantDental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.$13-27
    Dental NurseA Dental Nurse assists dentists in carrying out different kinds of oral-care procedures. They look after patient records and make notes when the dentist is examining a patient.$24-61
    Dental TechnicianDental Technicians manufacture dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures in accordance with the dentist's specifications. They are also responsible for replacing, repairing, or modifying full or partial dentures.$19-55
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Infection Control
    • Patient Care
    • OSHA
    • Dental Procedures
    • CPR
    • Chair Side
    • Patient Flow
    • Scheduling Appointments
    • Front Desk
    • Oral Surgery
    • Treatment Rooms
    • Medical History
    • Lab Cases
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Provide oral care instruction to patients according to surgery or alternate dental procedures.
    • Provide exceptional oral hygiene care under supervision to a variety of patients in addition to assign clerical duties.
    • Certify as an instructor for CPR.
    • Demonstrate compliance in coordinating CPR training for staff.
    • Maintain dental records in accordance with HIPPA policy.
    • Enter patient information into computer system (PBS ENDO).
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your lead dental assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A lead dental assistant salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, lead dental assistants' average salary in mississippi is 41% less than in minnesota.
    • Seniority. Entry-level lead dental assistants earn 49% less than senior-level lead dental assistants.
    • Certifications. A lead dental assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a lead dental assistant's salary.

    Average lead dental assistant salary

    $41,290yearly

    $19.85 hourly rate

    Entry-level lead dental assistant salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 1, 2026
  4. Writing a lead dental assistant job description

    A lead dental assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a lead dental assistant job description:

    Lead dental assistant job description example

    • High School Diploma or GED required.
    • Pass the competency skills checklist
    • Knowledge of insurance and treatment plans
    • Strong leadership, organizational and prioritization skills
    • For states that have advanced certifications or licensure for expanded functions, at least one of the following certifications may be required to meet job expectations: EFDA, EFODA, EFOSA, etc.
    • Certified in Expanded Functions, non-restorative, where required by state, to perform skills such as coronal polish, sealant application, temporary restorations and monitoring nitrous oxide.
    • Strong customer service and communication skills.
    • Demonstrated ability to adapt to changes and manage time effectively.
    • Current CPR, BLS or PALS required or ability to obtain within 30 days of start date.
    • Radiology certificate as required by state, or willingness to obtain within 180 days of start date.
    • Ability to work Monday-Friday and occasional weekends as scheduled and based on business needs
    • Ability to maintain continuing education (CE) as required by state or business requirements.
    • Ability to travel to work at other practices as needed.

    Preferred:

    • Advanced certifications such as: Nitrous, DAANCE, Pit and Fissure Sealant, Soft-Reline, Coronal Polishing, and /or EFODA if state applicable.
    • Minimum of 4 years of experience as a dental assistant.

    PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

    • Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.
    • Will work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training
    • Incumbent must be able to communicate effectively.
    • Requires overall light physical effort (up to 25lbs.)
    • Manual dexterity and sitting is required in carrying out position own position responsibilities (i.e. use of personal compute).
    • Ability to travel or move about within and outside serviced facilities required.
    • Incumbent works primarily in either a private or shared office environment.

    The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform this position.

    ** In accordance with DentaQuest’s Compliance Plan, employee must conduct DQ business in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards and ethical standards and report potential compliance or ethical issues to manager or DQ’s Compliance Officer. **

    DentaQuest’s Affirmative Action Program affirms our commitment to make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitation of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please see Human Resources for additional information regarding this Program.


  5. Post your job

    To find the right lead dental assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with lead dental assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit lead dental assistants who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your lead dental assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit lead dental assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting lead dental assistants requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead dental assistant

    Once you've found the lead dental assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a lead dental assistant?

Hiring a lead dental assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting lead dental assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of lead dental assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for lead dental assistants is $41,290 in the US. However, the cost of lead dental assistant hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a lead dental assistant for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $27 an hour.

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