Working as a dental assistant can be a rewarding career! You’ll have three basic roles working as a dental assistant: you’ll help the dentist deliver efficient care, help patients feel more comfortable during procedures, and be responsible for cleaning equipment and instruments. Many people can learn these basic dental assistant skills, but if you really want to succeed as a dental assistant, you’ll want to master these skills!
1. Clinical & Technical Skills
You probably already have a general idea of what dental assistants do. However, they have a wide range of duties! You’ll learn many clinical and technical skills during your training, including:
- Four-handed dentistry: This is the most crucial set of clinical skills you’ll learn! Four-handed dentistry refers to the ability to anticipate exactly which tools or materials the dentist needs without asking, looking or waiting.
- Moisture control and isolation: You’ll operate suction devices and air-water syringes to control moisture. You’ll also place materials like cotton rolls or dental dams to keep the working area dry.
- Monitor patients: You’ll take vital signs and watch patients during procedures to ensure they are doing OK.
- Take images: You’ll take X-rays and 3D scans.
- Infection control and sterilization: You’ll be responsible for cleaning and sterilizing instruments using ultrasonic baths and autoclaves. You’ll also understand how to effectively clean surfaces in the treatment rooms.
2. Communication Skills
Effective communication skills will help you interact with patients and co-workers! Some examples include:
- De-escalating patient anxiety: Many people fear going to the dentist, so they arrive anxious. A critical part of your job is using empathetic language to calm them and clearly explain what to expect.
- Collect medical history and give instructions: You’ll need to ask patients about sensitive medical conditions without making them feel uncomfortable. You’ll also provide clear, jargon-free after-care instructions.
- Share information with co-workers: You’ll update others regarding patients, supplies, schedule changes and more.
3. Attention to Detail
Missing small details can lead to contamination or impact patient safety! Having strong attention to detail will help you identify situations such as:
- Problems with instrument pouches: These are sterile pouches containing clean instruments, but they can develop tears or other signs that they are no longer safe to use.
- Expired materials: Bonding agents, cements, anesthetics and other materials expire and may be ineffective or unsafe.
- Inaccuracies in patient charts and lab: Mistakes in patient charts can lead to incorrect treatments or dosages. Lab products such as crowns or bridges might be made incorrectly.
4. Organizational Skills
Being organized avoids delays for both patients and dentists. Dental offices are often busy, with multiple patients being treated at the same time in different rooms. You’ll have tasks such as:
- Organizing instrument trays so they are stocked specifically for each procedure.
- Stocking materials using “first-in, first-out” so materials don’t expire.
- Making sure lab products (crowns, bridges, dentures, etc.) have arrived before the patient’s appointment.
5. Time Management
Part of your job is to keep the dentists on schedule and avoid making patients wait, both in the waiting room and in treatment rooms. You’ll be juggling patient care with other duties. Time management skills will help you:
- Balance workflow: While you’re waiting for anesthesia to take effect or impressions to set, you can do other tasks such as updating patient charts.
- Anticipate procedural steps: Being a few steps ahead of the dentist by mixing materials in advance or turning on equipment avoids minor delays.
- Turn treatment rooms: You’ll often have only a few minutes between patients. You’ll need to quickly clean and disinfect surfaces and replace the plastic film over equipment between each patient.
6. Teamwork & Collaboration
As the dentist’s “extra hands,” you’ll need strong teamwork and collaboration skills. You’ll also want others in the office to see you as a team player! For example, you’ll do things like:
- Understand the dentist’s workflow and preferences: Anticipate which instruments or materials the dentist needs and when.
- Assist others in the practice: You’ll also assist dental hygienists with procedures and recording data. Sometimes, you might also need to assist the front desk staff with scheduling and follow-up calls.
7. Adaptability
Dental offices are often busy with back-to-back appointments. Even minor schedule disruptions can cause delays. Here are situations that might require you to quickly adapt:
- Walk-in emergency: A patient needs immediate attention, so you’ll need to adjust your schedule.
- Delays: Patients may arrive late, other staff might be out sick, or procedures may take longer than expected, causing delays. You’ll want to find ways to catch up.
- Equipment failures: Equipment may fail, or batteries can die during a procedure, so you’ll need to quickly replace them.
8. Technical/Software Proficiency
Modern dental offices rely heavily on technology for everything from scheduling to imaging. You’ll learn how to use software to perform some of your duties, including:
- Patient charting and electronic health records: You’ll log existing tooth conditions and periodontal probe numbers. You’ll also input clinical notes, procedure codes and medications into patient charts.
- Scheduling and room statuses: You’ll use software to make appointments and monitor which treatment rooms are in use.
- Imaging technology: You’ll take X-rays and operate intraoral scanners to take images for crowns, bridges, nightguards, etc.
- Sanitizing hardware: You’ll operate programmable sterilizers, autoclaves and other sterilization-related equipment.
9. Compassion & Patient Care
Most people dislike going to the dentist, and some have outright phobias. You’ll learn technical and clinical skills during your training, but “soft” skills make a significant difference in patient comfort and satisfaction. For example, you can make a patient more comfortable by:
- Recognizing patient anxiety: Observing the patient’s body language and knowing when they need calming reassurance or a break.
- Being mindful with tools and equipment: Ensuring you’re not pinching a patient’s cheek or lip or causing gagging. Adjusting the chair and overhead lights can make a patient more comfortable.
10. Continuous Learning
You’ll need to keep up with emerging technologies and changing regulations! To keep your license current, you’ll likely need refresher training or certification renewals in basic life support/CPR, infection control, and HIPAA and patient privacy compliance. You can expand your skills to earn additional certifications such as:
- Coronal polishing and fluoride application
- Dental sealants
- Topical anesthesia and nitrous oxide monitoring
- Temporary restorations and matrix placements
A Dental Assistant's Career Starts with the Right Training
You can learn these essential dental assistant skills by completing an accredited dental assistant program in as little as nine months at National Career College! NCC offers flexible class schedules, including daytime and evening hybrid online programs. You’ll gain hands-on experience in fully equipped dental labs on campus. Learn more about NCC's Dental Assistant program.