Dental Assistant Programs

Dental assistants are responsible for several areas of office operations including patient education, assisting the dentist directly, ordering supplies, and helping with the everyday operations of the dental practice. Below is the various tasks that go into the dental assistant job description. Understanding the role and responsibilities of this position can help you decide if it may be the right career for you.

Patient Education

Whether you work for an orthodontist, an oral surgeon, or a family dentist, patients will have plenty of routine questions about after-care, their options in dental procedures, and proper oral hygiene. You will learn the answers to all of these common questions and can help the patient to understand their dental health. Because patient compliance is integral to the success of dental procedures, your assistance will be invaluable to both the dentist you work for and their clients. You will learn to help children begin to brush and will also explain proper denture care to the elderly. You will most likely work with patients from a wide range of ages and backgrounds.

Assisting the Dentist Directly

While it is possible for a dentist to work alone, four hands are faster and more efficient than two. You would be responsible for preparing dental materials such as filling compounds, applying topical anesthetics and fluoride treatments, and passing tools and implements to the dentist. You could also be asked to take dental x-rays, develop the films, and hang them for the dentist to inspect. While the dentist will be the one keeping the patient’s chart, you may also be asked to take throughout treatments and examinations. You will also be taking dental impressions.

After procedures, you will also be responsible for placing any reusable tools into the sterilizer and disposing of any leftover materials using correct bio-hazard protocols. The treatment room will also need to be disinfected. You may also need to restock any unused supplies.

Ordering Supplies

The supply closet is often the responsibility of the dental assistant. You will be expected to create a list of everything that needs reordered. Some practices will even take inventory occasionally to ensure nothing is overlooked. Everything from office supplies to surgical equipment will need to be counted and replenished when they run low. You may also be asked to coordinate meetings with drug reps and other professionals concerning supplies.

Assisting with Everyday Office Operations

When your help is needed, you may also be expected to cross-train on office operations including scheduling, answering the telephone, setting up payment plans, and keeping the charts orderly and updated. Having computer skills will help you a lot as a dental assistant and make you more useful to the practice you work for. You may also be asked to bring the patients back into the treatment rooms or usher them to their vehicles after their procedure.

This is a good overview of a dental assistant’s job description. While I have covered most of the responsibilities on this website, the may be some more that I haven’t mentioned – these are likely to be smaller tasks. A career as a dental assistant is an excellent choice. Not only will you help educate patients and contribute to the success of the practice, you will also learn valuable skills concerning the inner working of an office and the correct management of supplies.