A dental assistant accepts wide-ranging responsibilities at the dental practice. They are involved in office and laboratory duties, as well as patient care. Dental assistants receive formal training at learning institutes or colleges, and receive a lot of hands on training while working alongside the dentist.
Here are five of the major responsibilities of the dental assistant:
X-rays
Dental assistants are involved in taking and developing the x-rays required by the dentist to help decide on teeth health. This requires technical knowledge for placing the x-ray machine at the right angle to take the images. An incorrectly placed x-ray machine can mean inferior images. A dental x-ray license is required to carry out this duty in certain states.
Cleaning and sterilizing equipment
The dental assistant takes on the role of infection control officer by cleaning and sterilizing the wide-ranging dental instruments. Because the dental equipment isn’t disposable, it is necessary to perform the careful sterilization after each patient to avoid issues related to serious infections. Poorly maintained equipment can result in terrible consequences for the dental professionals and patients. A strict cleaning program is certain to be in place to make sure the tools are free and clear of bacteria or germs.
Assisting the dentist
A dentist relies on many different materials and tools to complete the treatment on a patient, such as injections, drilling, root canals, fillings, etc. The dental assistant closely assists the dentist to make sure the treatment procedures are completed as efficiently as possible. They help with passing the particular tools and materials necessary for completing the many dental procedures, as well as to suction the excess saliva throughout the treatment. A reliable assistance is able to anticipate the dentist’s needs and hands the tools in an efficient and timely manner.
Material Preparation
In the process of carrying out the day-to-day dental procedures, a variety of materials and compounds are needed. A dental assistant is responsible for mixing compounds to create dental impressions, adhesives for crowns and prosthetics, and amalgam for fillings. Since some of these materials harden fast, the assistant has to work fast and efficiently to make sure the filling material doesn’t set before used.
It can also benefit if the dental assistant has great people skills to try to get the patient at ease before the procedure starts. They need to have empathy and communication skills to listen to the patients and offer reassurance where necessary.
Source by Leo Eigenberg
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