The job of a dental assistant is very important because they are needed for the smooth running of a consultation. Every dentist wants an effective assistant to help prepare patients for their consultation, sterilize instruments, set up rooms, and do dental hygiene tasks.
They increase the efficiency and quality of the dentist in the delivery of an oral procedure and the treatments of teeth, gums, or mouth and are valuable members of the dental care team.
Dental assistants also document patient care and take x-rays.
If you’re considering this job, you should have strong communication skills, enjoy working with your hands and mind and be responsible.
And it would be best to remember that the goal is to make every patient feel cared for and very comfortable when he is discharged, knowing that the office did everything possible for him.
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Duties and Responsibilities of a Dentist AssistantÂ
- Preparation of patients for dental work
- Help control infections by sterilizing and cleansing instruments, setting up instrument trays, preparing materials, and assisting with dental procedures.
- Be good with patients, helping them feel comfortable before, during, and after a procedure; a patient might need you to hold their hands, soothe them with comforting words or tell them what is going on to reduce the fear of the unknown.
- Recording patient information
- Giving patients information on oral hygiene, and oral healthcare
- Ordering dental supplies and maintaining dental equipment inventory
- Taking and developing dental x-rays
- Helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and oral surgery.
- Teaching patients the right hygiene after procedures
- Assisting dental hygienists with the dental procedure
- Assisting dentists in managing medical and dental emergencies when necessary
- Prepare instruments in the sequence the doctor’s going to use them
- Promote the office at any given a chance.Â
- Do not talk about personal problems with any patient rather let the patients do most of the talking.
- A good DA anticipates the doctor’s needs and hands over whatever instrument he/she needs before being asked.
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What are the Qualifications and Requirements to become a Dental Assistant?
The education requirements of a dental assistant differ from country to country and state to state. But the general qualifications are:
- Certification or associate degree in an accredited dental assisting program
- Dental x-ray certification
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Effective communication skills
- Professional appearance and attitude
- Completion of the dental hygiene program
- Able to provide great patient care
- Be comfortable using computers
- License to practice
- Ability to follow laid down rules and guidelines
What are the Special Skills you Require to become a Good Dental Assistant?
Apart from the qualifications, there are some special skills that every DA needs to have.
These skills are important for the DA, the doctor, and the patients. Here are some of them;
1. Good and Effective Communication Skills
Communication skills include writing, listening, and talking. An excellent dental assistant should be a
- A good listener, a DA will spend her day interacting with patients, trying to learn more about them. Therefore, she must know how to listen very well to the things said and unsaid. She will also need this skill when taking orders from the doctor.
- Good writer; a DA will spend his day writing many things. He will write charts and also write down the procedures used. He will write about patients’ problems as well as their diagnoses too.Â
- Good talker; a DA will need to know how to talk. He can initiate small talks, talk about the procedures to be done to the patient, and talk with the doctor about the procedure. He should also expect to talk about the practice in good light and on the phone.
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2. Compassion and Empathy
Many patients are anxious in a hospital, especially a dentist’s office. Knowing this fear, a good DA should be ready to empathize and show concern for the patient.
3. Excellent Organizational Skills
A DA will spend his days organizing instruments, arranging and filling patients’ paperwork, etc. This skill will help you work easier and less complicated.
4. Multitask
To bed a good DA, you must learn to do different things simultaneously. You should also be dexterous because you must use both hands simultaneously most time.
5. Be Professional and Have a Strong Work Ethic
You will always be required to look and be professional at all times and to be determined to do all the duties required of you in a day. Just like most professions, some days will be more challenging than others. You should ensure you can bounce back quickly and be ready to face a new day.
Where can you work?
Depending on how busy or in demand a dentist is, he/she can employ two or more dental assistants. The employment opportunities in this field are numerous. They include:
- Solo dental practices – with only one dentist
- Group dental practices – with two or more dentists
- Special practices include orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, oral surgery, etc.
- Public health dentistry which focuses on improving oral hygiene in communities
- Dental school clinics – which help dental students as they perform dental procedures
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies – to process dental insurance claims
- Universities, institutions, and colleges to train and teach others to be dental assistants
- Dental product salespersons
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Career Advantage
There are a lot of advantages to choosing this career. Some of them include
- Flexibility: due to their high demand, there are both full-time and part-time positions
- Variety: Being a dental assistant isn’t a monotonous job. A dentist assistant does several different tasks in a day.
- Excellent working conditions
- Personal Satisfaction: The easiest way to feel happy and fulfilled is by helping people. A dentist assistant will be satisfied after work simply because he has helped someone.
Annual Salary
The salary varies from place to place and depends primarily on the responsibilities associated with a specific position. It is an average of $37,727 per year.
Conclusion – Dental Assistant Job Description
You must understand your job description, duties, and responsibilities to be a better dental assistant.
This article highlights some of the basics you need.
If you know the medical field and wish to start a career there, you may want to consider these other career options.
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