The Career Institute of American International College

Dental Assisting

Dental assisting is an allied health profession wherein the practitioners are important members of those who provide healthcare services. These students learn to become proficient in serving the needs of a dentist and his healthcare associates on both medical and clerical levels. By performing delegated duties within the supervising dentist's scope of practice, the dental assistants are able to keep the offices and clinics running smoothly.

The clinical duties of a Dental Assistant cover writing medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to patients and preparing them for examinations, helping the dentist at the chair side and taking down dental records while examining the patient, managing materials and instruments, and using suction or other devices to keep patients mouth dry and clear.

Dental Assistants in certain cases are expected to prepare materials for restorations and impressions, take and process dental x-ray films according to the instructions of the dentist. They also may remove sutures, remove excess cement used in the filling process, place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment and apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth.

Dental Assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouths from impressions; they will also clean and polish removable appliances and can make temporary crowns. Dental assistants with office duties set and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep a record of the treatment, despatch bills, collect payments, and order dental supplies and materials.