What Does a Dental Assistant Do During a Typical Workday

Have you ever noticed how many people there are working at the dentist's office besides the dentist? One of those hard-working professionals is the dental assistant. They're probably the first person you see when you enter the practice and one that helps you throughout your visit. They're busy, dedicated, and they like their jobs¹. Would you? Although your most important role as a dental assistant is to assist the dentist, it's hardly your only job. Here are the main tasks off a dental assistant's typical work day:

Dental Assistant Job Duties

Handle Direct Patient Care

As a dental assistant, you're often the very first person a patient sees when they enter a practice. Your warm smile and welcoming presence set the tone for the whole visit. Especially for patients who may get anxious about the dentist, your first job is to put them at ease. You also get them ready for their appointment, answer questions, serve as a liaison between them and the dentist, and educate them about good oral health. Sometimes you take X-rays or dental impressions and you're always there to offer kindness, compassion, and empathy. You also may need to know life-saving procedures. For example, licensed dental assistants must have basic life support training in New Jersey² and Rhode Island³.

Assist the Dentist

Dentists rely on dental assistants so much that most practice what's known as "four-handed dentistry". You're that second send of hands. Before the exam, you relay important patient history to the dentist and get the patient seated with proper ergonomic positioning. During the exam, you perform chairside assistance including transferring instruments to the dentist and using the tools of the trade such as the dental light, air and water syringe, high volume evacuator, saliva ejector and mouth props. And you make sure the patient is safe and well supervised throughout the visit.

Perform Infection Control

Infection control is critical to ensure a clean and safe environment for both the dental team and patients. As a dental assistant, you sterilize and disinfect dental instruments, equipment, and surfaces. You follow strict guidelines and protocols to prevent the spread of infections and maintain aseptic conditions. You properly dispose of biomedical waste, such as used needles and contaminated materials. During exams and procedures, you don personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, masks, eyewear, and gowns, to protect yourself and others from exposure to potentially infectious materials and chemicals. It's also critical to follow safety procedures during X-rays. This includes using lead aprons and thyroid collars on patients, avoiding X-ray exposure, and ensuring that radiographic equipment is properly calibrated and maintained.

Perform Administrative Tasks

While the dentist treats patients and performs procedures, someone needs to keep the front office running smoothly. That's one of your jobs as a dental assistant. You answer phones and emails and serve as a communication hub for the whole practice. You manage calendars, schedule appointments, check in patients, and update and maintain medical records. You might help with billing and insurance processing. And you probably will need to monitor and manage dental and office supplies, noting when items are low and need to be reordered.

Dental Assistants Must Know State & Federal Regulations

As a dental assistant, you are also required to follow important state and federal regulations. Your care of patients must adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, so patients and staff don't get hurt. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requires you to respect patient confidentiality. And your individual practice will also have rules you need to follow.

To work as a dental assistant, you need knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience. Lincoln Tech can help you acquire all three. Our Dental Assistant training program in New Jersey and Rhode Island provide you with dental knowledge and give you a true feel for working in simulated dental settings during class. You also participate in a dental assistant internship where you get real-world experience. Dental assisting is an important, in-demand profession that you can prepare for in as few as 10 months⁴. Fill out the form to get started now.

¹ Article "4 surprising trends to watch with dental assistant satisfaction" from https://www.danb.org/news-blog/detail/blog/4-trends-dental-assistant-satisfaction, published on November 9, 2022, retrieved on March 22, 2024.

² New Jersey Dental Association: "CPR & BLS Training" Retrieved from https://www.njda.org/continuing-education-events/event-details/cpr-bls on April 22, 2024.

³ Rhode Island Department of State, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Dental Assistants, continuing Education and Training of Dental Assistants, section 2.7.8. Retrieved from https://risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/DOH/REG_12131_20211222140754.pdf on April 22, 2024.

⁴ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm (visited March 22, 2024).

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