The Role of a Dental Assistant in the Clinic or Laboratory
Career opportunities for people who are desirous of becoming Dental Assistants have increased tremendously over the past few years. The employment scene for such individuals looks very promising as the need for dentists and dental services keep rising every year.
Dental assistants hold a responsible position and play a crucial role in helping dentists carry out their tasks. Apart from taking care of patients, they are also expected to carry out office duties such as maintaining files and laboratory work. Clinical tasks are usually not assigned to a dental assistant unless the doctor faces an emergency situation, which is a rarity.
Their primary duty is to ensure that the patient is relaxed and comfortable in the dentist’s chair. We all know that this is by no means an easy task. The dentist chair is one of the most dreaded sights and helping patients feel relaxed in such situation requires exceptional interpersonal skills. The assistant is also responsible for giving proper directions on methods of general oral care and post-operative care. Maintaining dental files and records of patients also form part of their duty.
Assisting the doctor in various dental procedures is a vital responsibility of a dental assistant. They have to keep the mouth of the patient dry and clean, using suction pump for the process. They are also expected to handle various types of instruments and devices during the dental procedure. In general, a good dental assistant will make sure that the dentist is able to concentrate completely on their patients and gets everything that they need including instruments and dental materials, as soon as they ask for it.
Dental Assistants are also required to work in laboratories where their duties include making temporary crowns, cast of the mouth and teeth as well as cleaning appliances and keeping the work area neat and presentable. In the office, they are expected to make schedules and confirm appointments of patients over the phone. They have to receive patients, maintain their proper medical and visit records and take care of invoices and payments.
The job of a dental assistant is a highly responsible one. While ensuring that the doctor is able to carry out their duties seamlessly, they must also carry out ancillary works, a major part of which deals with providing the necessary equipment and coordinating with the doctor and the patient.