What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

The profession of dental assistant has been gaining increased popularity, more so now that people place greater emphasis on their health. As a matter of fact, the prospect for this job is incredibly bright as employment in this field is expected to grow much faster than other occupations through 2016. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics even predicts that this profession will be the third fastest growing job for which a degree is not required. Although such job is well known, the exact duties of these professionals are often not clearly understood.

Read on to educate yourself on the job scope of a dental assistant.

Essentially, a dental assistant helps the dental operator to render more efficient dental treatment. The main skill that members of this profession should have is “chair assisting” skill. This means that their main duties will include such tasks as making patients feel comfortable in the dental chair, handing instruments and materials to dentists, setting up tray for dental procedures and sterilizing instruments.

Moreover, they are also expected to prepare materials to make impressions and restorations. Other additional duties on delivering patient care include removing sutures, applying anesthetics to gums and removing excessive cement used in the filing process.

Alongside providing basic patient care, these professionals may also carry out duties at laboratory. Examples of these duties are making casts of the teeth from impressions, cleaning removable appliances and making temporary crowns. In the case of clerical responsibilities, members of this profession perform such tasks as scheduling and confirming appointments from patients, maintaining records of treatments, sending bills and receiving payments as well as ordering materials.

Of particular concern regarding the duties of a dental assistant is that of expanded functions. These duties differ depending on local dental regulations. Examples of these expanded duties are placing and removing rubber dams, carving amalgam for restorations and applying cavity liners. It should be noted that all duties listed under expanded functions ought to be performed under the direct supervision of a dentist.

Expanded functions imply that there are some functions which are beyond that which are conventionally carried out by dental assistants. As such, members of this profession should take into account the fact that they are forbidden from performing certain duties.

Can one make much money with this job? This depends in part to the location that dental assistants will be working. Working in large cities almost always guarantees a higher pay. In addition, members of this profession can expect a higher pay if they have obtained a prior formal training.

One college educated graduate who has just started out is reported to earn $7.00 per hour. Upon securing an X-ray license, her hourly pay increases by one dollar. Another deciding factor is the amount of revenue generated by the dental office. In general, the median hourly pay is $13.62.

On top of this, dental assistants will receive health insurance and discounted dental procedures. If the dental office is doing well, they will even receive unexpected bonuses.

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