Are you looking for a rewarding career working alongside highly trained professionals in a clinical setting? A job where you mostly work on weekdays with weekends, evenings and holidays off? If so, consider a career as a dental assistant! Dental assistant job duties include more than handing dentists tools. If you’re asking yourself, “What does a dental assistant do?” read on to find out!
Prepping for the Day
Your dental assistant job duties begin even before patients arrive in the morning. You’ll play a key role in keeping everyone on schedule by ensuring treatment rooms and supplies are prepared. Your dental assistant prep duties might include:
- Powering on equipment such as air compressors and vacuum systems, typically stored in a utility room away from treatment rooms.
- Powering on computers, X-ray and other imaging units, autoclaves and ultrasonic baths.
- Attend the morning “huddle” with other staff to discuss the day’s schedule and identify any potential problems.
- Review patient charts and check to ensure all custom-made lab products (crowns, dentures, nightguards, etc.) have arrived.
- Prep treatment rooms by disinfecting surfaces, wrapping equipment in plastic film and flushing dental unit waterlines.
- Set up trays with materials and tools.
Patient Care in Action
A key part of a dental assistant’s duties is blending technical skills with empathy. Many patients fear going to the dentist, so they are often anxious. After all, it can be uncomfortable to hold your mouth open for a long time and have someone poking and prodding around in there! Your patient care responsibilities could include:
- Greet patients by name and ask about any changes in their medical history.
- Make sure patients are comfortable in the exam chair and adjust the bright overhead lights or give them sunglasses.
- Take patients' blood pressure.
- Take X-rays or run 3D intraoral scanners.
- Explain which procedures will take place. Agree on a hand signal if a patient needs a break (like raising their right hand).
- Assist the dentist during procedures, known as four-handed dentistry: give and receive tools efficiently, run suction devices and hold the cheeks or tongue out of the way so the dentist can see clearly.
- Monitor the patient’s body language for flinching or other signs of discomfort.
- Clean the patient’s face after a procedure ends.
- Give clear post-treatment instructions.
In between patients, you’ll need to prevent infections by cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces. You’ll also sanitize tools and instruments and restock supplies as needed.
Administrative and Behind-the-Scenes Work
You might be surprised to learn that dental assistant duties also include many administrative tasks! You’ll perform tasks such as:
- Live charting: As the dentist calls out observations during an exam, you’ll input the data into dental software.
- Enter procedure codes into patient medical charts for billing accuracy.
- Record SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) notes: Patient’s symptoms, clinical findings, anesthesia used, diagnosis and next steps.
- Manage lab elements such as logging outbound 3D scans or impressions for crowns, bridges, implants, etc.
- Inspect incoming lab products for accuracy.
- Take and pour lab impressions.
- Track lab delivery dates to ensure products will arrive before the patient’s next visit.
- Order supplies such as gloves, masks, suction tips, cotton rolls and impression materials.
- Monitor expiration dates on materials such as bonding resins and anesthesia.
- Assist front desk with scheduling and patient follow-up calls.
Variety and Problem-Solving
No two days are the same for a dental assistant! You’ll switch between multiple job duties, from cleaning and sanitizing equipment to clerical work, patient care, inventory and lab management, updating medical charts and more.
- Dentists perform a variety of procedures. As their assistant, you might help fill a cavity, prepare a tooth for a crown, place a bridge, perform a root canal, extract a tooth or place veneers.
- Patients differ quite a bit too, not only in the severity of their dental problems but in their anxiety levels. Some patients may require extra care and consideration or have disabilities.
- Elderly patients, children or non-English speakers also offer variety in your approach to their care.
You’ll encounter many situations that require problem-solving! For example:
- An emergency walk-in patient needs immediate attention and disrupts the day’s schedule.
- A patient gags during X-rays, so you need to quickly figure out what to adjust.
- Equipment fails, or batteries die during a procedure, so you’ll want to quickly swap for a replacement.
- A patient feels overwhelmed and needs a break, but the procedure needs to be completed on time.
Wrapping Up
After the last patient leaves, you still have dental assistant duties! Closing the dental practice for the day involves multiple steps:
- Disinfect treatment rooms, wipe all surfaces (dental chair, light handles, tray tables, computer keyboards, etc.).
- Remove all plastic film wrapping.
- Flush and sanitize suction lines and purge waterlines.
- Clean and sanitize instruments, then seal them in sterilization pouches.
- Package outbound scans or impressions for the dental lab. Check that lab products have arrived for tomorrow’s patients.
- Power down all equipment and computers.
- Safely dispose of biohazard waste, including sharp needles and scalpel blades, according to regulations.
Key Skills Dental Assistants Use Throughout the Day
Dental assistant duties require a variety of skills, from technical to interpersonal. Three essential categories of skills will make you a successful dental assistant:
Clinical and Technical Skills:
- Four-handed assisting: Seamlessly work alongside a dentist and anticipate their needs before they ask.
- Imaging: Use X-rays and other imaging equipment, such as 3D scanners.
- Sanitizing: Run ultrasonic cleaners and autoclaves.
- Dental material science: Understand how to mix materials correctly.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
- Empathy and de-escalation: Treat each patient as a person, not just another appointment. Use active listening and calm body language to soothe anxious patients.
- Education: Explain what to expect during the procedure using non-clinical language and provide clear home-care instructions.
- Collaboration: Be willing to assist beyond your assigned job duties and communicate clearly with other staff members.
Administrative and Logistical Skills:
- Electronic health record charting: Accurately record data and notes.
- Software: Understand how to use dental practice software.
- Lab management: Inspect incoming lab products, take and pour impressions, and track expiration dates.
- Time management: Work efficiently to stay on task and help the dentist remain on schedule.
Get Started with Your Dental Assisting Career
All you need to do is enroll in a dental assistant training program to begin your new, exciting career! You can earn dental assistant certifications in just 9 months at National Career College. In this program, you’ll earn three certifications:
- Radiation Safety Certification
- Infection Control Certification
- Coronal Polishing Certification
NCC offers flexible class schedules, including evening hybrid classes. You’ll gain hands-on experience in fully equipped dental labs. You’ll also work with real patients while completing 160 hours in an externship. Learn more about the Dental Assistant program today!