Dental Assistant Job Description

Dental assistants undertake a complex mix of clinical and administrative duties in a dental office. They can be restricted to particular tasks depending on the location where they work, but the scope of their duties is very wide-ranging. During routine dental procedures, dental assistants often wear protective gloves, masks, safety glasses, and other protective garments, to protect themselves from infections and other complications that can arise during the procedure. In some offices, dental hygienists or dentists to perform certain procedures while assistants perform others.

Some tasks performed by dental assistants include taking X-rays, suturing, painting and preparing enamel examinations, removing sutures, making castings, preparing tooth impressions, preparing materials for braces and crowns, packaging equipment, preparing teeth charts, preparing temporary veneers, making copies of patient's files, preparing temporary sealants, etc. In some offices, dental health professionals such as licensed dental hygienists or dentists to perform certain procedures. These may include tooth extraction, root canal treatment, teeth cleaning, etc. where assistants would be responsible for administering medications. A dental hygienist would typically oversee the entire procedure while an assistant would perform the necessary tasks under the supervision of the hygienist.

There are a few factors that contribute to the overall pay of a dental assistant. The typical starting salaries of this job role depend on several factors including the size of the office, length of employment, training received, industry knowledge, geographic location, and many other such factors. It is imperative that a dental assistant understand where he/she stands in terms of his/her position and the expectations of the employer. Dental assisting schools impart courses that help students acquire specific skills in the field of dentistry. They also offer courses on average salary based on experience, certification, years of practice, etc.

The responsibilities of a dental assistant job description usually vary from one state to another, depending on state laws. Most states require dental assistants to have the same educational requirements, but there are some states that differ as far as duties are concerned. For example, in Washington, all dental assistants have to undergo 16 hours of training in the areas of sedation, oral surgery, radiology, and oral surgery. Students studying in dental assisting schools are usually required to complete a one-year program.

The biggest responsibility of a dental assistant is that of being able to perform the duties well and with efficiency. Aspiring dental assistants need to be able to handle all kinds of patients' cases and take care of their needs to ensure that their new careers are lucrative. Since a dental assistant is required to perform many duties, he/she needs to be skilled in many areas. Duties such as cleaning, preparing tools used during a procedure, handling various kinds of equipment, sterilizing dental tools and equipment before use, etc. are the responsibility of the dental assistant.

The dental assistants have to know that the dental hygienist is not the only doctor who knows how to cure a patient's dental health. Dentists who are also licensed to perform the treatment have to be consulted. Where do dental assistants work? They may work at a private dentist's clinic or a public health clinic. At public health clinics, they are usually working alongside the dentists and the doctors in treating the patients and in prevention of diseases. Private dental health clinics work for a smaller number of dentists, hence a smaller number of assistants are employed there.