Dental Assistant

Description

Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team.

The duties of a dental assistant include the following:

•    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 blood 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

Patient Safety
Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in MCC Clinic, with patient safety initiatives

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