Dental
Assistant
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of a dental assistant are among the most among the
most comprehensive and varied in the dental Office. The dental assistant
performs many tasks required both
interpersonal and technical skills although state regulates vary. Responsibilities
may include.
assisting the
dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
taking and
developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
asking about the
patient's medical history and taking bood pressure and pulse
serving as an
infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing
and sterilizing instruments and equipment
helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other
dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)
teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral
health;
(e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal
computer
Communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments,
answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)
Helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including
orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and oral surgery
Salary: $23,550-$47,580
Education:It takes a relatively short period of time to become a
dental assistant. Dental assistants receive their formal education through
academic programs at community colleges, vocational schools, technical
institutes, universities or dental schools. Graduates of these programs usually
receive certificates. Although the majority of academic dental assisting
programs take nine to eleven months to complete, some schools offer accelerated
training, part-time education programs or training via distance education.
Reflection: this is a good job for people that want to start as a dentist
become one must have experience when doing this type of stuff. For me unfortunately
this is not a dream follow but this can have self-benefits so this is not my
type of job but for many this a good career