Dental Assistant

The responsibilities of a dental assistant :

1. Clinical Duties

• Chairside Assistance: Handing instruments, mixing dental materials, and using suction devices to keep the patient's mouth clear and dry while the dentist works.
• Sterilization & Infection Control: Disinfecting treatment rooms, sterilizing dental tools using autoclaves, and maintaining strict cross-contamination protocols.
• Dental Radiography: Positioning X-ray equipment and capturing diagnostic dental images.
• Lab Work: Taking impressions of patients' teeth and assisting in pouring or trimming study models.
• Expanded Functions: Depending on local state or regional regulations, duties may also include placing temporary crowns, applying fluoride, or polishing teeth.

2. Patient Care

• Preparation & Comfort: Greeting patients, seating them, checking medical histories, and explaining procedures to relieve dental anxiety.
• Post-Operative Care: Instructing patients on oral hygiene routines (brushing and flossing) and providing care guidelines following treatments.

3. Administrative & Office Duties

• Record Keeping: Updating charts, recording treatment notes, and managing patient information.
• Front Desk & Billing: Scheduling appointments, managing patient flow, and processing insurance claims or payments.
• Inventory Management: Ordering and monitoring dental supplies to ensure the clinic remains well-stocked.