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Dental Assistants Occupation Detailed Description

Dental Assistants career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Dental Assistants

The main tasks and work activities of Dental Assistants are to assist practitioners to perform medical procedures, prepare medical instruments or equipment for use, clean medical equipment, operate medical equipment. In general, for the Dental Assistants, active Listening, speaking, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking and other 5 skills are required.
Dental Assistants Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Dental Assistants jobs. 9.42% of Dental Assistants have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 62.54% of Dental Assistants have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
9.42%
Post-Secondary Certificate
62.54%
Some College Courses
8.46%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
11.99%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
7.59%

Tasks and Work Activities of Dental Assistants

  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
  • Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
  • Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
  • Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
  • Clean and polish removable appliances.
  • Clean teeth, using dental instruments.
  • Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
  • Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
  • Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
  • Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
  • Fabricate and fit orthodontic appliances and materials for patients, such as retainers, wires, or bands.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Operate medical equipment.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Record vital statistics or other health information.
  • Interview patients to gather medical information.
  • Explain technical medical information to patients.
  • Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Process medical billing information.
  • Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
  • Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
  • Fit patients for assistive devices.

Skills and Abilities for Dental Assistants

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Dental laboratory air abrasion unitse.g. Air abrasion units
  • Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
  • Teeth cleaning devices or accessoriese.g. Air/water syringes
  • Amalgam carrierse.g. Amalgam carriers
  • Dental amalgamatorse.g. Amalgamators
  • Dental depth gaugese.g. Apex locators
  • Dental articulators or accessoriese.g. Articulators
  • Dental syringes or needles or syringes with needlese.g. Aspirating syringes
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizerse.g. Autoclaves
  • Orthodontic plierse.g. Band seating pliers
  • Dental laboratory lathes or accessoriese.g. Bench lathes
  • Dental bite blocks or wings or tabse.g. Bite blocks
  • Dental radiology filme.g. Bitewing film holders
  • Dental burse.g. Burs
  • Dental laserse.g. Caries detection aids
  • Dental syringes or needles or syringes with needlese.g. Cartridge syringes
  • Chemical or gas sterilizerse.g. Chemiclaves
  • Dental scissorse.g. Collar scissors
  • Dental laboratory vacuum units or suppliese.g. Computerized pressure/vacuum casting systems
  • Orthodontic plierse.g. Contouring orthodontic pliers
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.