What Are the Responsibilities of a Dental Assistant?
The average Chair side Dental Assistant will be responsible for:
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- Preparing patients for treatment.
- Obtaining dental records.
- Passing instruments to the dentist.
- Keeping patient’s mouth dry by using air suction and other devices.
- Sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and other dental equipment.
- Prepare tray setups for dental procedures as needed.
- Instructing patients on postoperative and general oral health care.
- Prepare materials for making impressions and restorations.
- Expose radiographs and process dental x-ray film as directed by the Dentist.
- Remove dental sutures (Excludes wire sutures in Alabama).
- Apply topical anesthetic to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth.
- Remove excess cement used in crown and bridge procedures.
- Setting up patient exam rooms.
- Place rubber dams on teeth for individual isolation.
Other Duties of Dental Assistants
The Average Dental Assistant with Laboratory Duties will be responsible for:
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- Cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
- Making temporary crowns.
- Making casting molds
The Average Dental Assistant with Office Duties will be responsible for:
- Answering office phones.
- Scheduling and confirming patient appointments.
- Greeting and receiving patients.
- Filing patient records.
- Updating patient treatment records.
- Financial services.
- Ordering clinic supplies and materials.
- Performing data entry.
- Managing office finances.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT
OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION
