5 Daily Duties of a Dental Assistant

If you’re thinking of getting continued education as a dental assistant, you may want to know what this job involves. There are many tasks that a person in this career type will do.

One thing is for certain, and that’s if you do hold this position, you aren’t likely to get bored. Taking time to learn of the things that may occur in the average day of your dental hygienist is sure to be helpful.

1. Greeting patients

One of the tasks that many people in this job enjoy doing is meeting the patients.  Getting to know this person is one thing that many hygienists genuinely like.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to have the right personality to hold down this position. It will be necessary to enjoy socializing and talking to others that you may meet at the dental office.

2. Taking x-rays

Getting x-rays of your teeth at least once a year is critical for maintaining your dental health. This is a job that a dental assistant typically does and will require the right equipment.

The benefit of having x-rays includes finding any issues that may be between the teeth. It’s ideal to address these before any decay was to get out of hand.

3. Cleaning teeth

Of course, one of the jobs that a dental hygienist is best known for is cleaning teeth. Getting a deep cleaning is essential for any patient to do twice a year.

Many tools will be used during this process. The proper training for the use of each dental device will be done in a dental assistant school.

The key to having healthy teeth is by ensuring the right cleaning efforts are made. There’s no better person to do this job other than a trained dental assistant.

4. Assisting the dentist

There may be some instances when this job will involve helping the dentist. For example, if a patient is getting a filling or other type of dental work, you may need to lend a hand.

Working closely with your dentist when you’re asked to do so is just part of your job. You may be asked to hand this professional a variety of tools that are essential to complete the dental task.

5. Administrative work

Depending on the staff that may be out of the office at different times if you’re a dental assistant it may be necessary to help. For instance, if the receptionist is out one day and you don’t have a lot of patients, you may need to answer the phone.

Of course, there are other administrative tasks that you may need to do. Some of these include filing insurance or scheduling appointments.

It’s important to work to do your part in all of the office work that may be needed. Proving you’re an invaluable part of the dental office is the key to ensuring you’re part of the team.

Choosing the right career can be a daunting task. It’s essential to think of all the things you’d like to do and the type of personality you have. Of course, knowing what’s expected of you before training for this role is essential. The last thing you’ll want to do is work at a job you dislike for any amount of time. However, being prepared beforehand and knowing what to expect is the key to having success. Taking the time to invest in the right education for your career is the best thing you can do!

About Author

Justin is a journalism student from Ottawa, Canada. Since a young age, he has felt a passion for writing along with a knack for asking curious questions, which guided him into his current path today.