dental assistant

dental receptionist

dental hygienist

pediatric dental assistant

front desk receptionist

James Dental Group

Working at James Dental Group has been a high-performance, growth-oriented experience centered around access to and quality of care. This is not a slow-paced or corporate-style office—it’s a group that is actively working to serve patients who otherwise would have very limited options, especially in rural Oregon.

One of the most important things to understand is the mission behind the work. This is one of the few non-corporate, non-DSO groups meaningfully serving rural communities, and they are also heavily committed to hospital dentistry, which is becoming increasingly difficult to access. In many areas, larger institutions have reduced availability for complex cases, so this group is stepping in to fill a real gap. The work being done here genuinely makes a difference for patients.

The level of care is also worth highlighting. Compared to many clinics serving similar patient populations, the standard here is notably high. Providers are expected to deliver quality, comprehensive treatment—not just volume—and that expectation shows in the clinical outcomes and team culture.

The company shows a strong commitment to developing its team. Many assistants are trained from scratch, with certifications and continuing education paid for. Raises are given immediately after certifications are completed. If you ask for additional training or support, leadership is willing to provide it—there is a clear effort to help people grow.

Over the past six months, the organization has made meaningful improvements by centralizing operations and training systems, which has helped create more consistency and stronger onboarding across locations. This has helped me get additional training I needed rather than putting it all on the shoulders of upper management. 

Compensation is very competitive, and always above market. With that comes expectation—this is a performance-driven environment. If you are paid more, you are expected to produce, stay efficient, and maintain professionalism, especially in leadership roles.

The clinical pace is fast and high-volume, which can be challenging, but it also allows providers and staff to gain experience quickly. Many team members become more skilled and confident in a shorter time frame compared to slower practices.

An important point that often gets overlooked is provider retention. Over the past 10 years, there has been virtually no doctor turnover aside from providers who relocated out of state, which speaks to long-term satisfaction among clinicians who understand the model.

From a personal standpoint, leadership has been accessible and supportive. Communication with ownership is consistent, and when I needed to relocate, they were understanding and continued to encourage me while providing opportunities to grow in a new area. That level of flexibility and support is not something you see everywhere.

No workplace is perfect, and this one is no exception. It is a demanding environment, and the expectations are high. But there is a clear and genuine effort from leadership to build something meaningful, and it’s evident that they care—both about their patients and their team—more than many organizations I’ve experienced.

Pros:

Mission-driven work serving underserved and rural communities
High level of care compared to similar clinics
Strong commitment to hospital dentistry and complex care access
Paid training, certifications, and continuing education
Immediate raises tied to skill advancement
Leadership willing to provide additional training
Improved training systems through recent centralization
Above-market compensation
High clinical exposure and rapid skill development
Strong long-term doctor retention
Supportive leadership and consistent communication

Cons:

Fast-paced, high expectations
Demanding environment at times
Not ideal for those seeking a slower or lower-pressure role

Overall:
This is a group working to solve a real access-to-care problem while maintaining a high standard of care and continuing to improve its systems. The work isn’t always easy, but for those who value growth, purpose, and being part of something that truly makes a difference, it can be an extremely rewarding place to be.


You will be told lots of positive things prior to being hired. Once on the job, your position quickly changes. 
- Lack of communication after hiring. There is positive, attentive communication that ends quickly for most employees the day they start. 
- Little infrastructure to support the amount of employees and patients. Operations are spotty and disorganized, without direction or clear vision and change frequently. 
- Scheduling is focused on production and not patient need. Expect to run 2-4 columns as a provider with little support, supporting a high-need patient population with treatment every 30-60 minutes: double, triple, or quad booked. Production scheduling is mandated and changed by owners, and does not take patient or provider needs into account. 
- High turnover. Regular weekly firings. There’s minimal training, no warnings, and little direction/assistance for new employees, who are dismissed if not producing to owners preferences.
- Non -competitive benefits: high cost medical (and difficult to use in-office dental), minimal PTO, and zero holiday pay. 
- Extended wait time for patients - because clinical staff are double or tripled booked to capacity. Waiting room is regularly standing room only. 
- Multiple issues of missed pay and lack of overtime pay. 
Unprofessional environment not conducive to quality dental work. Ask around in the Portland area before considering a job with this group. The dental community is small and this group will likely continue to lose respect. Reach out to former providers before considering a role with this group. 

The team atmosphere here is amazing! The owners and management are very supportive and actually want you to succeed and grow. They meet with us to talk about personal goals and what they can do to help. They also understand that we have personal lives and are very understanding when personal matters arise that we have no control over. I feel very lucky to get to work for this company and actually love coming to work everyday to a helpful team, supportive managers and love that I  get to help our patients and community. I feel like I’m always learning new things and my days fly by. The opportunity that I have been given for not only professional growth, but personal growth by this company is unmatched. I will be forever grateful for all the skills I have acquired from all the time they have put into training me. I have such a respect for what this company does and the people they help. It’s hard to find a company that actually wants to see their employees grow not only professionally, but personally. 

Working here has been an incredible experience. The team fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where everyone works together to provide the best care for patients. The leadership genuinely cares about employee growth and provides opportunities for professional development.

The clinic is well-organized, with efficient systems in place to make daily tasks smooth and manageable. The focus on patient care and satisfaction is truly inspiring and it is rewarding to be part of a team making such a positive impact.

I highly recommend this office to anyone looking for a fulfilling career in the dental field.

James dental group has a wonderful working environment. Getting to know my coworkers and building relationships with them has been the best part, knowing that someone is always there to help you is the best. The management is always helpful and willing to answer any and all questions. They make sure everyone is taken care of and that you have everything you need to be successful. I have learned so much dental knowledge since starting my job here and not to mention that all the Doctors are so friendly and very easy to work for!

James Dental Group is without a doubt the best dental company to work for! The owners and manager are beyond supportive of their staff and always willing to accept and give feedback. They truly care about each employee being successful and always provide learning experiences. They create a positive work environment and promote team work among staff. It is so special to be able to enjoy going to work each day and I always look forward to working with my coworkers who have become like family. The pay and benefits are also very generous. There truly isn’t a negative thing to say! 

This has been one of the best jobs I’ve had so far! The teams at the pediatric clinics are absolutely wonderful! Everyone is so helpful, kind, and works great together! The doctors are the best I’ve ever worked for, and I truly have gained so much knowledge from them! One thing that stands out with this employer is their flexibility with education. I was taking classes while working and they were so encouraging and helped me adjust my schedule accordingly to work with my classes. Overall, it’s been a really great experience! 

I love going to work, the management truly want to see you grow and thrive. The people are caring, the hardest part is going home. The patients are nice and listen to the doctors. The doctors and management want to get to know you and truly care about your family and are always kind. I love my job here and I'm blessed to have found them and that they have given me a chance to shine/grow/thrive in my career. I feel like I have found my forever home. 

Days are productive! Working with this team is professional full of laughter and fun. The doctors are wonderful and mindful of assistants. Management is prompt and kind when helping with any issues.  The owners are beyond thoughtful and giving! As an employee I feel both lucky to work in such a great office. In the office I feel lucky to work with a fun loving and caring team/support staff.  

We love to have fun on the peds side and everyone is such a pleasure to be around here! I have learned a lot here and continue to learn each and every day!! 
The hardest part of the job would just be the tough/sad cases that come through. 
But the most enjoyable part is seeing the smiley happy kids have a great fun experience and of course all the stories they tell us along the way. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Dental assistant 19 salaries reported	$28.34 per hour
Dental receptionist 13 salaries reported	$27.11 per hour
Dental hygienist 19 salaries reported	$68.55 per hour
Pediatric dental assistant 17 salaries reported	$31.44 per hour
Front desk receptionist 2 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour

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