Dental Assistant

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA); Certified Registered Dental Assistant; Dental Assistant (DA); Expanded Dental Assistant; Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA); Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA); Oral Surgery Assistant; Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant); Registered Dental Assistant (RDA); Surgical Dental Assistant

Tasks

• Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
• Record treatment information in patient records.
• Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
• Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
• Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
• Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
• Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
• Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
• Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
• Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
• Clean and polish removable appliances.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• English Language
• Administration and Management
• Administrative
• Sales and Marketing
• Computers and Electronics
• Production and Processing

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Near Vision
• Oral Expression
• Oral Comprehension
• Speech Recognition
• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Written Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Finger Dexterity
• Speech Clarity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision