Employment

About East Cooper Community Outreach: Founded as an emergency relief effort in 1989 after the devastation from Hurricane Hugo, East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) has since grown into a permanent resource for the community with a mission to provide assistance, guidance, and resources to help our neighbors navigate through life’s challenges. Annually, over 1,500 families receive help through ECCO’s Wellness Pantry, Financial Assistance, Dental & Medical Clinics, Prescription Assistance, Clothing Closet, Asset Development Program, and other services. Enhanced through personal interactions with staff who provide individualized support and coaching for each client, ECCO meets each client where they are and helps them navigate the challenges they are facing with care and compassion. ECCO is also a place where people who want to help their neighbors can find meaningful ways to share their time, talent, and treasure. Each month, more than 275 local neighbors give their time, volunteering at ECCO’s main campus and Clothing Closet. For more information, please visit: www.ECCOcharleston.org.

Position Summary
The Dental Assistant will serve in two primary roles based on scheduled services. The first role is as a Dental Assistant to our dental providers and students. The secondary role is serving as a receptionist, receiving and scheduling patients for treatment, following up with patients post-treatment, entering and maintaining records, and ensuring the clinic is stocked, sterilized, and prepared for services.

Team ECCO
All members of Team ECCO must maintain the utmost professionalism to uphold organizational standards of excellence, protect client/patient confidentiality, and positively and professionally represent the organization in the community. All positions require an appreciation for service to the community, empathy for our clients, a passion for ECCO’s mission, and a commitment to our core values of compassion, collaboration, respect, and integrity. Because all team members may interact with clients, volunteers, staff, community partners, donors, and board members, they must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Reports to: Clinic Office Manager                FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Salary Range: $19.10 – $22.75 (up to 20 hours per week)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree or Certification in Dental Assisting
• Radiation Safety Certification
• 1 year of relevant experience
  

Preferred Qualifications:
Additional skills, knowledge, and attributes that will support the successful completion of position responsibilities.

• Understanding of underserved populations, providing services, and clinical standards and outcomes
• Knowledge, use, and experience with Open Dental or similar dental software
• Effective work habits, including time management, teamwork, and a proactive mindset
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative team environment
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software and Google Workspace
  

Work Environment and Physical Demands:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, iPads, scanners, and phones. Additionally, this role uses clinical equipment, including a panoramic x-ray, x-ray technology, sterilization equipment, an autoclave, a blood pressure cuff, and a variety of dental tools and supplies needed to prepare treatment and surgical trays. Work involves regular and recurring exposure to potential hazards and communicable diseases. Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment and follow appropriate protective measures. Frequent periods of bending, standing, and walking are required.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Dental Assistant

• Serve as an assistant to dental providers (paid and volunteer) in a variety of complex oral procedures.
• Take preliminary dental impressions; pour and trim study models from impressions.
• Maintain dental equipment and ensure clinic furnishings are in clean and operable condition.
• Sterilize, clean, prep, prepare, and reset exam rooms and operatories.
• Provide postsurgical instructions and dispense antibiotics or pain relief methods as directed by the dentist.
• Operate dental X-ray equipment to take intra- and extra-oral radiographs. Retrieve digital images and/or develop and finish film.
• Ensure infection control standards are being met by all providers and staff. Sterilize instruments, materials, and equipment; prepare surgical trays.
• Chart examination and treatment information on prescriptions and other treatment follow-up in Open Dental. Repeat dental education and follow-up care provided by clinicians. 
• Observe patients for obvious signs of discomfort, illness, or stress, notifying professional staff of perceived emergencies.
• Make referrals to other ECCO programs based on the medical or personal history relayed by the patient to ensure their needs are being addressed.

Receptionist

• Perform a full range of receptionist, record-keeping, and clerical duties to keep the clinic functioning with accuracy and efficiency. Answer clinic calls upon availability. Scan documents into patient charts.
• Ensure the cleanliness/readiness of patient rooms, equipment, lobby, and provider conference room.
• Organize and disseminate clinic materials/information. Set up patient clipboards and information for clinic times and appointments. Track patient information, schedules, files, referrals, labs, and forms.
• Monitor the safety and well-being of patients entering the clinic upon services.
• Provide patient-centered communication and advocacy to those utilizing the clinic.
• Effectively communicate referral and ECCO policies to clinic patients
• Collect relative survey information per patient visit for data entry in Open Dental and Charity Tracker.
• Act as liaison to dental volunteers and students in conjunction with ECCO policy and mandates.
• Report concerns and/or supply needs to leadership.
  

Supervisory Requirements: None

Typical work hours for this position include:
Monday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday Afternoon/Evening 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

This position is not eligible for benefits.

Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume via email to jobs@ECCOcharleston.org or submit by mail to:

ECCO
Attn: Dental Assistant Search
1145 Six Mile Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

Review of applicants will begin December 1, 2025, with a desired hire date as early as January 1, 2026. Recruitment will continue until a candidate is hired.