What Do Dental Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Dental Assistants assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records. They also prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.

Other tasks include:

• Record treatment information in patient records.
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
• Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.

We asked Dental Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 73% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Dental Assistants prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures. They record treatment information in patient records.

A typical day for a Dental Assistant will also include:

• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
• Clean teeth, using dental instruments.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.

We asked some Dental Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	35% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	84% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	86% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	66% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	16% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	66% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Dental Assistants also make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts. They may also pour, trim, and polish study casts.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Dental Assistants Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory. They might also Clean teeth, using dental instruments.

In addition, they Clean and polish removable appliances.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Fabricate and fit orthodontic appliances and materials for patients, such as retainers, wires, or bands.

To some Dental Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Dental Assistant, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm

http://www.adaausa.org/

http://www.ada.org/

http://www.danb.org/