Carisma Taylor
Jackson,MS
Summary
Accomplished DANB certified dental professional with 15+ years of progressive experience in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, dental radiography, clinical operations, workforce training, quality improvement, and patient care. Lead Dental Assistant Instructor since August 2020 with experience training, evaluating, mentoring, and assessing cohorts of 15-20 adult learners every five weeks. Estimated experience training approximately 900-1,200 dental assisting students since 2020. Demonstrated success using performance metrics and data-driven improvement strategies, including increasing retention/graduation rates from 60% to 66% and graduate placement rates from 51% to 70% during the 2025-2026 reporting period. Mississippi Dental Radiology Permit Holder, American Heart Association BLS Instructor, and BLS Certified.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Traveling Dental Assistant
Docs Health
08.2022 - Current
- Serve as a Dental Assistant during traveling dental events supporting military readiness and access to dental treatment for service members.
- Assisted dentists during procedures, ensuring tools and materials were readily available.
- Prepared and sterilized dental instruments to maintain a clean working environment.
- Educated patients on oral hygiene practices and post-treatment care.
- Perform dental radiographs and assist dentists during examinations, treatment planning, restorative care, and preventive services.
- Support efficient clinic flow and patient throughput in mobile, temporary, and high-volume clinical environments.
- Maintain infection control, documentation, patient safety, and federal healthcare protocol standards.
- Assist with clinical setup, breakdown, equipment readiness, and coordination of dental services during weekend events.
Lead Dental Assistant Instructor
Delta Technical College
Jackson, MS
08.2020 - Current
- Lead classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction for cohorts of 15-20 adult dental assisting students every five weeks.
- Trained approximately 900-1,200 students since August 2020, based on 15-20 students per five-week module.
- Conducted competency assessments, skills verification, performance evaluations, coaching, and remediation plans, ensuring clinical readiness of students.
- Coordinate instructional workflow, laboratory activities, clinical skill rotations, scheduling, and resource allocation.
- Analyzed student performance data and implemented corrective action strategies, enhancing educational outcomes.
- Contributed to increasing retention/graduation rates from 60% to 66% during the 2025-2026 reporting period.
- Supported workforce development initiatives that increased graduate placement rates from 51% to 70% during the 2025-2026 reporting period.
- Collaborated with faculty, administration, and clinical partners, supporting program effectiveness and driving continuous quality improvement.
Back Office Manager / Dental Assistant
Mississippi Smiles
, MS
03.2016 - 08.2020
- Assisted in management of daily clinical operations in a high-volume pediatric dental practice.
- Coordinated patient flow, treatment readiness, scheduling support, operatory turnover, and clinical workflow.
- Trained and mentored team members on clinical procedures, pediatric patient care, office protocols, radiology, sterilization, and infection control.
- Assisted providers with pediatric dentistry, restorative treatment, radiographs, behavior management, oral surgery support, and patient education.
- Maintained compliance with OSHA, infection control, radiographic safety, and clinical quality standards.
Dental Assistant
Ridgewood Smiles
07.2015 - 03.2016
- Provided chairside support for general dentistry procedures, radiography, patient education, treatment preparation, and operatory turnover.
- Supported clinical workflow, sterilization, infection control, and documentation.
Pediatric & Oral Surgery Dental Assistant
Kool Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Oral Surgery
07.2011 - 07.2015
- Assisted providers in pediatric dentistry and oral surgery procedures, including radiography, patient preparation, chairside assisting, and post-operative instructions.
- Supported surgical treatment workflows while maintaining patient safety, infection control, and documentation standards.
Dental Assistant
Dental Associates
06.2010 - 07.2011
- Supported restorative and preventive procedures by providing chairside assistance to enhance patient comfort and care.
- Facilitated dental radiographs, sterilization, patient education, operatory preparation, and treatment support to ensure efficient workflow and patient safety.
Education
Associate Degree -
Antonelli College
Skills
- Supervisory Leadership
- Staff Training & Mentorship
- Clinical Operations
- Workflow Coordination
- Competency Assessment
- Performance Evaluation
- Quality Improvement
- Performance Metrics Analysis
- OSHA Compliance
- CDC Standards
- Infection Control
- Dental Radiography
- Oral Surgery Support
- Pediatric Dentistry
- General Dentistry
- Scheduling
- Patient Care
- Military Readiness Dental Support
Licensure Certifications Training
- DANB Infection Control Certification
- DANB Radiation Health and Safety Certification
- Mississippi Dental Radiology Permit Holder
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified
- Training in coronal polishing, sealants, and nitrous oxide monitoring/support
Timeline
Traveling Dental Assistant
Docs Health
08.2022 - Current
Lead Dental Assistant Instructor
Delta Technical College
08.2020 - Current
Back Office Manager / Dental Assistant
Mississippi Smiles
03.2016 - 08.2020
Dental Assistant
Ridgewood Smiles
07.2015 - 03.2016
Pediatric & Oral Surgery Dental Assistant
Kool Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Oral Surgery
07.2011 - 07.2015
Dental Assistant
Dental Associates
06.2010 - 07.2011
Associate Degree -
Antonelli College