Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
Surgical Dental Assistant jobs in Tennessee are concentrated in oral surgery practices, periodontal offices, and multi-specialty dental groups, with demand at every level from entry-level chair-side assistants to experienced surgical coordinators. The busiest hiring markets are Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, where established employers such as Aspen Dental, Heartland Dental, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center maintain ongoing needs for surgical support staff. Oral and maxillofacial surgery assistance, implant procedures, and IV sedation support are among the most in-demand specialties across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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JOB TITLE: Certified Surgical Technologist (Full Time)
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Physician and/or Registered Nurse
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams, which most commonly include surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/REQUIREMENTS:
- A graduate of an accredited surgical technologist program
- CST certification, or based on state regulations, they may be grandfathered in, without being certified
- Prefer 1-2 years clinical experience in an operating room setting. May accept 0-2 years of clinical experience in a related field
- Must be certified in Basic Life Support
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Prepares and maintains medical equipment and instrumentation for surgical procedures
- Before an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room by setting up the sterile field to include surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions
- Follows state and federal facility regulations when attending to patients
- Performs pre-procedure preparations to the patient's skin and body
- Completes a safety check prior to start of the procedure on appropriate equipment, supplies, etc.
- Assembles both sterile and non-sterile equipment, as well as checking to ensure it is working properly
- May assist with prep for patient procedure
- May transport patients to the procedure room
- May assist with positioning on the procedure table
- Drapes the patient with surgical drapes per procedure to be performed
- Passes instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants
- Retracts, cut sutures and performs other functions under the supervision of the physician performing the procedure
- Participates in the count of sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments, based on type of procedure performed
- Helps prepare specimens and assists with the disposition of specimens
- Applies dressings
- Post-procedure, assists with patient transfer from the procedure bed to the stretcher
- Cleans and restocks the procedure room
- Pulls supplies and instruments for upcoming procedures
- Assists with the maintenance of physician preference cards and inventory management
- Assists with the decontamination and cleaning, sterilization and performance of quality testing related to sterilization and high level disinfection
- Performs other duties as assigned
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to be on your feet for long periods and lift or turn disabled patients
- Requires sitting and standing associated with a normal office environment
- Ability to concentrate for periods of up to four hours
- Ability to communicate verbally both in person and on the telephone
- Ability to use computer keyboard and to view a computer monitor
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
- Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients in the center
- Demonstrates the ability to utilize recognized channels of communication
- Demonstrates the ability to maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients, co-workers, and other health team members
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS: Surgical technologists work in clean, well-lighted, well-ventilated environments. Must stand for long periods and remain alert during operations. At times may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.
ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS: Occasional evening and/ or weekend work.
This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account with an employer contribution
- Life Insurance
- PTO
- 401(k) retirement plan with a company match
- And more!
Equal Employment Opportunity & Work Force Diversity
Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, parental status, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic testing results or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. This practice relates to all personnel matters such as compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, layoffs, etc. Furthermore, our organization is committed to going beyond the legal requirements of equal employment opportunity to take positive actions which ensure diversity in the workplace and result in a multi-cultural organization.
#100
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 220+ Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
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Find JobsSurgical Dental Assistant Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Surgical Dental Assistant Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- TriStar Health41

- Maury Regional Health17

- Erlanger14

- Ascension14

- HealthTrust Workforce Solutions11

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services44
- Medical Devices3
- Consumer Goods1
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical dental assistant jobs across Tennessee.
- Active Dental Assistant certification recognized by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry
- Experience assisting in oral surgery, extractions, or implant procedures
- Proficiency with surgical instrument sterilization and infection control protocols
- Current CPR and basic life support certification from an accredited provider
- Familiarity with dental practice management software such as Dentrix or Eaglesoft
- Strong patient communication skills and ability to support sedation procedure workflows
Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a surgical dental assistant in Tennessee?
To become a surgical dental assistant in Tennessee, you must register with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry as a Registered Dental Assistant, which requires completing an accredited dental assisting program and passing the Dental Assisting National Board exam. For surgical settings, employers typically also require documented experience with oral surgery procedures, current CPR certification, and in practices using IV sedation, completion of a Board-approved sedation monitoring course.
Which companies hire surgical dental assistants in Tennessee?
Companies currently hiring surgical dental assistants in Tennessee include TriStar Health, Maury Regional Health, and Erlanger, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Tennessee's concentration of multi-specialty dental service organizations and academic medical centers means consistent openings across both urban practices and regional clinic networks.
Which Tennessee cities have the most surgical dental assistant jobs?
Nashville, Chattanooga, and Memphis lead Tennessee for surgical dental assistant openings. Nashville's large and growing population supports an especially dense cluster of oral surgery and multi-specialty dental practices, while Memphis and Knoxville benefit from regional medical anchors and dental school pipelines that sustain steady employer demand in surrounding suburban communities.
Are there remote surgical dental assistant jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Surgical dental assisting is a hands-on, chair-side role that requires physical presence in a clinical setting, so fully remote positions make up a very small share of the market. About 14% of surgical dental assistant openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those tend to cover administrative or insurance coordination functions rather than clinical duties.
How can I get hired as a surgical dental assistant in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing an accredited dental assisting program at a Tennessee community college such as Tennessee College of Applied Technology or Nashville State, then applying to general dentistry roles to build chair-side skills before transitioning to a surgical setting. Large Tennessee dental service organizations like Aspen Dental and Heartland Dental regularly hire new graduates into associate assistant roles. Earning your Registered Dental Assistant credential with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry and a current CPR certification gives candidates a clear edge when applying without surgical experience.
Where can I find and apply to surgical dental assistant jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to surgical dental assistant jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from practices and dental groups hiring across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and credentials and apply directly to each one.
See All 220+ Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs in Tennessee
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