Dental Assistant
Patient care: Greeting patients, showing them to their exam rooms, and preparing them for procedures
Assisting with procedures: Passing instruments, suctioning saliva, and helping with fillings, crowns, extractions, and surgeries
X-rays: Taking and processing X-rays
Records: Maintaining patient records and charts, and updating dental records
Assisting routine dental cleaning
Education: Advising patients on oral hygiene
Emergencies: Helping dentists manage dental and medical emergencies
Infection control: Sterilizing tools and equipment, and adhering to infection-control policies
Cleanliness: Maintaining a safe and clean working environment
Must know scanning and how to do crowns
Attention to detail
This is a critical skill that can be applied in many areas of the job, such as preparing patient care rooms, sanitizing equipment, and finding information in patient files.
CPR certification
A DANB-approved provider must certify dental assistants in CPR in case of emergencies at the dental practice.
Interpersonal skills
Dental assistants need to interact with patients and dentists, so they should be able to work well with both groups. This includes being sensitive to patients emotions and helping them feel comfortable.
Sterilization and disinfection
Dental assistants need to ensure that dental instruments are properly sterilized before and after use to prevent the spread of infection.
Customer service
Dental assistants need to provide customer service to patients who may be nervous or anxious about their treatment. They should be able to comfort and reassure patients.
This role requires anything above an 1 year of experience.