Dental assistants play an important role in oral care practices. Under the supervision of a dentist, they perform a wide range of clinical and administrative tasks. But what exactly do they do, why are they drawn to the field and what does it take to get started in the industry? Let’s find out.
Why Do People Get into Dental Assisting?
Life’s too short to not have a mission, but a career should match your personality and aptitudes. If you’re like most people, you want a job that’s both secure and rewarding. The dental field offers both. People choose dental assisting because:
They’re Passionate about Dentistry
Smiles are worth a thousand words, but too many people don’t get the dental care they need. As research reveals new links between oral and general health, the importance of dentistry is growing. If you’re passionate about smiles, becoming a dental assistant is an entry-level opportunity to improve the well-being of your community.
They Enjoy Working with People
If you enjoy working with people, few fields are more satisfying than dentistry. Dental assistants work directly with the public, forming close professional relationships with vulnerable patients who need their expertise. The personal connections they make last a lifetime, and the lessons taught span generations.
They Value Science and Technology
Oral care is an evidence-based field. As a dental assistant, you’ll work with the most advanced technology to deliver cutting-edge treatments based on the best available science.
They’re Team Players
Dental assistants work in a supportive environment with a team of dedicated professionals. Everyone works together to deliver the best oral care possible, and no one’s contributions are overlooked.
They Want a Head Start
Becoming a dentist takes six to eight years in college. It’s a noble goal but not always achievable. Life is short, and if you want to launch a career in dentistry without waiting, you can become a dental assistant in months. Get a head start on your future by training for your chosen field now, and then build on your education while you earn and gain experience.
They Want a Better Future
The workplace is evolving as technology displaces what were once essential workers. Students are wise to question whether the training they receive today will be relevant in the future. But opportunities for dental assistants are growing as demand for oral care rises. It’s a future-forward career that will always require a human touch.
What Are a Dental Assistant’s Duties?
Dental assistants work side-by-side with dentists and hygienists, performing a wide range of clinical and administrative tasks in an office setting. It’s an essential role that contributes directly to patient care. Responsibilities include:
Scheduling Appointments
Dental assistants share scheduling duties with the front office. Because they understand the time and resources required for each treatment, they help manage urgent appointments.
Welcoming Patients
Many adults have dental anxiety, so oral care visits are stressful for some patients. Dental assistants roll out the welcome mat, using their clinical and administrative expertise to answer their questions and make them comfortable. Ambassadors of first impressions, they set the stage for successful treatments.
Preparing Treatment Rooms
Dental assistants keep the schedule running smoothly by keeping work areas well-stocked with the necessary equipment and supplies. They also sanitize shared surfaces and equipment between patient visits to prevent the spread of infection.
Tray-Setups
Dental trays contain the many tools dentists need to perform treatments. Instruments are arranged by order of use and how they’re transferred from the assistant to the dentist during a procedure. Dental assistants are responsible for knowing what each instrument does and which are required for treatments from fillings to extractions.
Review Health Histories
Dentists need to know more about their patients’ health before making treatment recommendations. People with diabetes, for example, need more preventive care while patients who’ve had joint replacements may need prophylactic antibiotics.
So, before each visit, dental assistants review the patient’s health history, including which medications they take and to which they’re allergic. In dentistry, safety is always first.
Taking X-rays
Expanded function dental assistants, those with more than basic training, take dental x-rays. From positioning the patient to draping them with lead to limit radiation exposure, they’re responsible for the process from start to finish.
Providing Chairside Support
Dentists need a second pair of hands to manage instruments and supplies during treatments. Dental assistants sit at the chairside, passing tools and managing suction while monitoring patients for safety and comfort.
Assisting in the Lab
Orthodontists and denturists employ dental assistants to make tooth impressions, molds that are used to create implants or dentures. Dental assistants may also inspect, clean and polish removable dental appliances including dentures, bridges, and retainers.
Polishing Teeth
Dental assistants polish teeth above the gum line after they’ve been cleaned. Called coronal polishing, it removes surface stains and smooths out imperfections in the tooth enamel to which bacteria could cling.
Recordkeeping
Good recordkeeping is a must for continuity of care. The dentist should be able to open a patient’s chart and know exactly what’s been done and what has been recommended for treatment. Dental assistants are responsible for taking notes during procedures and ensuring that x-rays and records from other practices are properly organized and stored.
Ordering Supplies
Dental assistants are familiar with the supplies that the clinical and office staff needs. They help manage practice inventory and place orders for supplies as needed.
Educating Patients
Educating patients about their teeth is among a dental assistant’s most rewarding roles. Whether it’s relieving patients’ fears or helping children learn to brush, it’s an opportunity to share your passion for oral care and help the next generation have healthier smiles.
Assisting in the Office
Dental assistants rarely have clerical-only roles. Their clinical skills are too valuable to waste. Still, they’re trained to manage a broad range of administrative tasks from filing and data entry to filling out insurance claims and posting payments. Team players, they’re ready to lend a hand whenever and wherever they’re needed.
How Do You Become a Dental Assistant?
Completing a vocational school training program is the best way to start your career. In as little as nine months, you’ll be work-ready. A diploma qualifies you for entry-level positions but becoming certified by the Dental Assisting National Board opens the door to greater opportunity. Vocational schools help you every step of the way with a comprehensive curriculum including off-campus clinical experiences. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll learn.
What Do You Learn in a Dental Assistant Program?
Dental assisting programs cover what you need to know to be successful, blending the best in classroom education with hands-on experience. You’ll learn how to:
Clinical Charting
Patient’s charts are legal documents, so clinical documentation must follow specific guidelines. Courses cover all aspects of charting from how to take clear, accurate and timely notes to making legal corrections.
Prepare Instrument Trays
Dental assistants prepare instrument rays for procedures from extractions to root canals. Arranged from left to right in the order in which they’re first used to prevent cross-contamination, there are hundreds of potential combinations. In this course, you’ll learn to identify dental instruments used for exams, fillings, cleanings, and oral surgery.
Take X-Rays
Clear dental x-rays are the key to diagnosing tooth problems. Programs that include x-ray instruction cover how to position and drape patients as well as techniques for getting the best images. Other topics include nuclear and workplace safety.
Sterilize Equipment
Dental offices can harbor dangerous bacteria, so strict sanitation is critical. In addition to disinfecting surfaces and equipment, you’ll sterilize the instruments used in patients’ mouths.
While most practices have switched to disposable supplies for many applications, hand tools are sterilized using heat, pressure, or chemicals. In a dental assisting program, you’ll learn more about infection control procedures and how to prevent the spread of disease.
Perform Fluoride Treatments
Topical fluoride treatments are a powerful weapon against cavities. A painless procedure that protects enamel, it delivers much higher concentrations of fluoride than fluoridated water or toothpaste.
Especially beneficial for children, fluoride in the form of a foam or gel is applied to teeth with a brush or tray. You’ll learn how to apply the treatment and work with kids toward a lifetime of better oral health.
Apply Sealants
Dental sealants protect teeth from bacteria. A two-part process, teeth are etched with an acid solution and then coated with a liquid sealant to create a hard barrier. You’ll work side-by-side with dental hygienists to perform this service after a good cleaning.
Use Topical Anesthetics
Patients are given anesthetic injections to prevent nerve pain during drilling, but the needle also causes discomfort. You’ll help make the process pain-free by learning to apply a dab of topical anesthetic to the gum tissue where the needle injection is given.
Place Dental Matrices
Matrices have revolutionized restorative dentistry. Used for fillings, they form a mold for which the dentist can restore a tooth even if an entire surface is missing. Dental assistants prepare the filling materials and position the matrix as directed. The dentist then fills the tooth, and the matrix is removed after it’s cured.
Take Alginate Impressions
Dentists create appliances like dentures using alginate molds. You’ll learn how to mix the materials and take accurate impressions so they’re a perfect fit.
Fabricate Temporary Crowns
Temporary crowns protect prepared teeth while permanent crowns are being made. You’ll learn how to fabricate the crown and cement it securely into place.
Polish Teeth, Fillings and Crowns and Dental Appliances
Coronal polishing removes stains and discourages tooth decay, but polishing fillings is also imperative. Rough, they’re uncomfortable against mouth tissue unless they’re smoothed. Dental assisting students learn how to use an ultrasonic polisher for a wide range of aesthetic and practical procedures.
Obtain Bacteriological Specimens
Not all antibiotics kill all bacteria, so it’s important to identify the organism before prescribing treatment. As a dental assistant, you’ll be trained to swab skin and wounds, obtaining cell specimens for laboratory analysis.
Care for Mouth Wounds
Oral surgery creates incisions that may need stitches or packing. Dental assistants learn to apply and remove dressing materials and take out sutures.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve always wanted a career in dentistry but don’t have the better part of a decade to spend in college, dental assisting may be the job for you. A rewarding profession in a growing industry, there’s never been a better time to start helping others as a dental assistant.
The Dental Assistant training program at Meridian College provides extensive hands-on training including a school externship at a dental office where you will assist the dentist in treating actual patients.
Meridian College also has dedicated school instructors, which offer you training in dental assisting that you can use to get an entry-level position at a dentist office or dental clinic. You get to work in real world situations and use your training from classroom lectures to further your skill during lab work in dental assisting.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a dental assistant.