Dental assistant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dental assistants help make dental treatment more efficient. Among the tasks they assist with are:

• assisting the dental care provider by holding and passing instruments
• retracting tissues and suctioning to assist better vision of the operating field
• mixing materials
• maintaining dental record keeping
• sterilizing dental instruments and equipment

While the initial definition of a dental assistant remains unchanged, the realm of responsibility has increased greatly. Dental assistants are called upon to:

• manage patient welfare
• educate patients on oral health
• act as liasons between dentists, hygienists, and patients
• keep dentists' schedules flowing
• complete procedures once only handled by dentists
• ensure OSHA and HIPAA regulations are followed
• assist with x-ray technician, supply person, be computer savvy, be somewhat of a lab technician and much more.

Many states are moving toward certification as a prerequisite for the position. Dental assisting, however, is not just about technical skills; it has a lot to do with people. The field requires people who can relate well and read situations and body language.