Job Description For Dental Assistant

If medical doctors have nurses and medical assistants to assist them in their duties and responsibilities, dentists have dental assistants to assist them in providing quality dental care to patients. A healthcare field such as dental assisting is one of the most sought-after careers simply because of its ability to provide job stability and lucrative financial rewards as well. For anyone who wishes to pursue this career, having an idea of the job description of dental assistants will help you understand what their duties and responsibilities are, and why they are important in the field of dental care.

Dental assistants are sometimes confused with dental hygienists – although they both work in order to provide quality dental care, dental assistants are more of an “all-around” worker while dental hygienists perform more complex clinical tasks. As the dental technology continues to evolve, the duties and responsibilities of dentists become more elaborate and expand in scope, and therefore they need assistants who can perform more basic tasks while they attend to other important dental procedures. They essentially function as an extension of the dentist in performing general tasks inside the clinic. The service that dental assistants provide is valuable in helping dental clinics run smoothly and efficiently.

When it comes to providing patient care, dental assistants are assigned tasks such as acquiring dental records of patients, sterilization of dental instruments, preparing dental instruments and materials required for a particular dental procedure, and preparing the patient for dental treatment. Dental assistants may also be assigned office-related tasks such as answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, ordering of supplies, and sending of bills and receiving of payments. Laboratory work usually includes taking dental impressions, exposing dental radiographs, and creating temporary crowns. The job description of dental assistants will vary depending on the regulations of the State he works in.

Dental assistants have the privilege of working in a clean, organized, and well-ventilated work environment. Most of their work revolves around the dental chair, making sure that dental instruments, supplies, materials, and medication are ready for use at anytime the dentist needs them. Just like dentists, they are required to wear specific clothing such as facial masks, surgical gloves, and eyewear in order to ensure the safety of both the patients and themselves. The work schedule of dental assistants will be dictated by the dental office where they are employed, and it is not uncommon for them to work during weekends and holidays.

Whether it’s patient care, office work, or laboratory procedures, the job description of dental assistants is an important aspect to understand for anyone who desires to pursue this career. This career is not only financially rewarding and recession-proof, but it is also both exciting and dynamic since your work as a dental assistant will always be changing. There is simply no idle time when you work as a dental assistant – you are always on the go. Keep in mind that the dentist depends on you to help him provide quality and efficient dental care, and you must accompany whatever knowledge and skills you have with passion and genuine love for helping other people in order to have that sense of fulfillment as a dental assistant.