DENTAL ASSISTANT 1
Career Family: DENTAL ASSISTANT
Dental Assistant 1 is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
It expects 1 year of relevant experience and a valid NJ driver's license. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $46,215 to $66,786, and state payroll currently lists 8 people in the title, led by Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
How to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Dental Assistant 1 appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Health.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Health | 4 |
| Department of Human Services | 4 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 8 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $60,198. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (4)
- Human Services (4)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a Dentist, assists in the clinical and administrative functions of a dental care program; does other related work.
Examples of work
- Establishes appointments for the Dentist in coordination with other disciplines and good dental practice.
- Acts as a receptionist, greets and seats patients, correctly adjusts the dental chair and dental light, and drapes the patient.
- Takes, processes, and mounts dental x-rays.
- Charts all pathology on the patient's chart upon the Dentist's direction
- Acts as a dental educator and presents the dental treatment plan developed by the Dentist.
- Sets up instruments and equipment for all procedures.
- Assists the Dentist with procedures involving work inside the mouth, to the extent allowed by law.
- Prepares material for the Dentist's use.
- Provides chair-side and waiting room nursing care; gives post- operative instruction; dismisses patients and works through post- operative nursing care with patients and ward personnel.
- Cleans and sterilizes dental instruments and supplies.
- Performs dental laboratory procedures, including: mixing of materials; pouring cast models and dies; invests, casts, and polishes inlays, crowns and bridges; uses model trimmer; and performs all other subprofessional tasks in the dental laboratory.
- Maintains and cleans dental equipment.
- Answers the telephone and takes and relays messages.
- Drafts correspondence and types and/or writes other materials.
- Orders, receives, inventories, and properly stores dental materials, supplies, and equipment.
- Maintains financial accounts and processes invoices for billing.
- Maintains patient and dental facility records, reports, and files.
- May be required to drive a mobile Dental Facility throughout the state.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Successful completion of a one (1) year dental assistant program at a trade or vocational school, technical institute, accredited college or in the military service.
Experience
One (1) year of experience performing dental assistant work involving restorative, surgical, or prosthetic dentistry procedures or, in dental x-ray.
License
Applicants must possess a valid license as a Dental Radiological Technologist issued by the Radiological Technology Board, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the principles and methods of dental care.
- Knowledge of the concepts and application of oral pathology, bacteriology, pharmacology, dental anatomy, physiology, and nutrition.
- Knowledge of dental terminology.
- Knowledge of the instruments and materials used in general dentistry.
- Knowledge of the methods used to take, process, and mount dental x-rays.
- Knowledge of local and general dental anesthesia and its administration including agents, pharmacology, physiology, and patient management before, during, and after the administration of anesthesia.
- Ability to assist the Dentist by performing assigned technical, chair-side, and administrative duties.
- Ability to take, process, and mount dental x-rays.
- Ability to maintain and clean dental and laboratory equipment and the dental facility.
- Ability to recognize health emergencies and administer first aid.
- Ability to maintain patient and facility records and files.
- Ability to manage a dental office, including written communications, billings and supplies.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODES: 14/H13 - MCK 2/8/03
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Applicants who do not possess the required education, may substitute one (1) additional year of experience performing dental assistant work involving restorative, surgical, or prosthetic dentistry procedures or, in dental x-ray.