The dental assistant will perform many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. 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 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 counselling)
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, paediatric dentistry, periodontics and oral surgery
