Dental Assistant

A dental assistant job description is quite varied. Therefore a dental assistant must be well-organised and calm to handle all these different tasks efficiently. Dental assistants are responsible for the sterilization and disinfection of the dental tools and equipments. This is not a task to take lightly, since patients are putting their trust in the dentist when they sit in that dental chair and any error can lead to disastrous consequences and malpractice lawsuits.

Before each patient procedure, the dental assistant will pull out the dental file and record the patient’s medical history and any medical complaints, prepare for the doctor the tray with the required dental instruments and material needed for each case. The dental assistant will make sure the patient feels as comfortable as possible in the dentist chair throughout the entire visit, prep them for the treatment and assist the dentist all through the procedure. The Dental assistant will usually be sitting next to the dentist holding the suction, keeping the mouth dry or irrigated, passing on the required instruments to the dentist, etc.

The dental assistant will prepare the material needed for an impression, will take and develop the x-rays images as instructed by the doctor, will explain to the patients the instructions post the dental treatment or oral surgery and often educate them on the proper oral hygiene care for future prevention.

Some dental Assistants are trained to perform lab duties such as making temporary crowns and making dental casts for teeth impressions.

Often a dental assistant has some office duties as well such as answering the phone, calling back patients, scheduling patients’ appointments and confirming them, handling the billing and checking the inventory for material and ordering dental supplies.