What Are the Major Responsibilities of the Dental Assistant?

A dental assistant performs a variety of tasks in the dental practice. You will be responsible for office and laboratory work as well as patient care. Dental assistants receive formal training at learning institutes or colleges and receive a lot of hands-on training while working alongside the dentist. Visit more here about this topic.

Here are five of the primary responsibilities of the dental assistant:

X-rays

Dental assistants are involved in taking and developing the x-rays that the dentist needs to make decisions about dental health. This requires technical knowledge to place the x-ray machine at the right angle to capture the images. A misplaced x-ray machine can result in inferior images. In certain states, a dental X-ray license is required to perform this duty.

Cleaning and sterilizing devices

The dental assistant assumes the role of infection control officer by cleaning and sterilizing the various dental instruments. Since the dental equipment is not disposable, careful sterilization after each patient is necessary to avoid problems related to serious infections. Poorly maintained equipment can have serious consequences for dentists and patients. A rigorous cleaning regimen is sure to be in place to ensure tools are clean and free of bacteria or germs.

Assistant to the dentist

A dentist relies on many different materials and tools to complete a patient's treatment, such as: B. Injections, drilling, root canals, fillings, etc. The dental assistant closely supports the dentist to ensure that the treatment procedures are carried out as efficiently as possible. They will assist in handing over the special tools and materials needed to perform the many dental procedures, as well as suctioning out the excess saliva throughout the procedure. A reliable assistant is able to anticipate the needs of the dentist and hand over the tools in an efficient and timely manner.

Material preparation

A variety of materials and compounds are required in the performance of day-to-day dental procedures. A dental assistant is responsible for mixing compounds to make dental impressions, adhesives for crowns and prosthetics, and amalgam for fillings. Because some of these materials cure quickly, the wizard must work quickly and efficiently to ensure the filling material does not cure before use.