The dental assistant, sometimes called a dental nurse, handles many responsibilities. If you’re hiring an assistant for your dental practice, keep reading for some helpful information. This article covers the primary duties of the role, dental assistant job description templates, and a comprehensive guide on different dental assistant job descriptions to help you find the best candidates.
What Are the Main Duties of a Dental Assistant?
What does a dental assistant do? A dental assistant’s role involves performing administrative and technical responsibilities, so the dentist can focus on the patient and already have the dental equipment, tools, and information they need. A dental assistant is not the same as a dental hygienist, a dental professional who performs dental cleanings autonomously.
Dental Assistant Duties Checklist
Typical dental assistant responsibilities include:
- Speaking with patients about their concerns
- Performing office and administration tasks
- Preparing exam rooms between appointments
- Sterilizing rooms, equipment, and instruments
- Taking dental impressions
- Assisting dentists with fillings, extractions, and other procedures
These are common things found in a dental assistant job description.
Dental Assistant Skills
Specific skills prove essential to thrive in the dental assistant role. These include:
Administration
Dental assisting often involves administrative tasks, requiring skills in phone etiquette, appointment scheduling, and record keeping.
Communication
Successful dental assistants can communicate effectively with coworkers and clients.
Decision-Making
Assistants must have enough dental knowledge to recognize emergencies and make quick decisions on behalf of the patient.
Dental Assistant Job Description Template
If you’re looking for a dental assistant for your practice, use the template below.
Job Description Template
Job Summary
Introduce your practice and provide a summary of the available dental assistant job.
Duties and Responsibilities
List the essential tasks performed by dental assistants in your office.
Requirements and Qualifications
List education, certification, and experience requirements.
Dental Assistant Job Description Sample
Job Summary
Our busy practice needs a dental assistant to improve efficiency and help our dentists provide outstanding care.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Prepare patients and exam areas
- Sterilize and set up instruments and equipment
- Take X-rays
- Assist dentists with exams and procedures
- Perform lab tasks
- Perform administrative tasks
Requirements and Qualifications
- Proven dental assistant experience
- Great communication
- Computer proficiency
- Certified dental assistants preferred
Dental Assistant Job Description and Salary
Your dental assistant job description may look slightly different from another clinic’s, especially if you offer procedures or services others do not.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median dental assistant salary is $38,000 a year.¹ The exact number will depend on your location and the type of office.
How To Describe a Dental Assistant on a Resume
The average dentist doesn’t spend more than seven seconds looking at a resume, so follow these tips for the best dental assistant resume:
- List all of your experience, including volunteer work
- Be specific about your education
- List all skills, including soft skills like listening and teamwork
Are you a registered dental assistant? Be sure to say so!
Popular Dental Assistant Roles To Consider
Many dental assistant roles exist, so you can find a great position, whether your passion lies in spreading knowledge of good oral hygiene or helping patients feel less uncomfortable at the dentist. Consider the following roles if you’re looking into dental assisting or writing a dental assistant job ad.
Dental Administrative Assistant Job Description
Administrative dental assistants handle the office functions of a practice. These responsibilities include:
- Answering phones
- Answering emails
- Taking and distributing messages
- Managing client arrivals
- Making appointments
- Managing client records
- Managing client payments
- Ordering office and dental supplies
- And other administrative tasks
Dental Hygienist Assistant Job Description
Hygienist assistants help improve dental office efficiency by assisting dentists and hygienists. Their job duties may include the following:
- Reviewing patient care plans
- Preparing equipment and instruments
- Taking vital signs and patient’s teeth impressions
- Sterilizing dental procedure area
- Giving fluoride dental treatments
- Inventorying and stocking supplies
Dental Business Assistant Job Description
The business assistant functions in the same way as an administrative assistant with similar duties, including:
- Answering phone calls and emails
- Scheduling appointments and referrals
- Managing online communications with patients
- Managing online reviews and other marketing duties
- Managing records and payments
- Inventorying and ordering office supplies
Dental Surgical Assistant Job Description
Dentists need help during surgeries, so they hire surgical assistants. These dental assistants perform the following tasks:
- Welcoming and prepping patients for oral surgery
- Applying topical anesthetics
- Monitoring equipment and instruments during surgery
- Helping with suction and handing over instruments
- Cleaning and sterilizing instruments after surgery
- Taking X-rays before and after surgery
- Educating clients about infection control
Dental Clinic Assistant Job Description
General dental clinic assistants perform many responsibilities:
- Preparing the dental office for the day
- Creating and maintaining records
- Creating and maintaining maintenance processes
- Managing clients as they come in
- Answering questions
- Answering phones and taking messages
- Managing payments
Dental Lab Assistant Job Description
Lab assistant tasks include:
- Providing chairside assistance to dentists
- Helping the dentist through four-handed dentistry
- Welcoming and preparing clients
- Ensuring client comfort
- Taking X-rays
- Sterilizing instruments and equipment
- Providing dental hygiene instructions
- Stocking and cleaning treatment rooms
- Maintaining records
- Performing other lab tasks as needed
Dental Sterilization Assistant Job Description
Sterilization assistants focus on keeping the office safe and clean. responsibilities include:
- Sterilizing instruments and equipment
- Sterilizing exam rooms and other areas
- Documenting the sterilization process
- Performing other dental assistant duties as needed
Dental Chairside Assistant Job Description
Chairside dental assistants perform tasks that assist dentists during cleanings, procedures, and surgeries. These tasks include:
- Maintaining accurate patient charts
- Performing X-rays safely
- Preparing patients for exams and procedures
- Preparing instruments and equipment
- Passing dental instruments
- Suctioning excess saliva
- Responding to dental emergencies
Lead Dental Assistant Job Description
Lead dental assistants often have dental accreditation through a dental assisting program. They perform their duties while mentoring other assistants. Their leadership job responsibilities include:
- Directing other assistants
- Maintaining routines for cleanliness
- Improving overall patient care
- Training other staff members
- Maintaining up-to-date industry knowledge
- Improving workflow processes
Pediatric Dental Assistant Job Description
Pediatric dental assistant jobs exist in children’s dentist offices. Their tasks are much the same as assistants for adults. They include:
- Preparing exam areas
- Preparing dental instruments and equipment
- Helping the dentist with exams
- Educating children on oral health
- Taking X-rays
Endodontic Dental Assistant Job Description
Endodontists specialize in tooth pulp and internal tissues. They perform root canals and similar procedures. Endodontic dental assistants perform the following duties:
- Scheduling appointments
- Taking x-Rays
- Preparing for procedures
- Assisting during procedures
- Monitoring patient comfort
- Cleaning up after a procedure
Senior Dental Assistant Job Description
Like the lead dental assistant, the senior assistant performs a wide range of duties, including:
- Radiological tasks
- Assisting dentists with preventative and restorative dental care
- Laboratory tasks
- Clerical tasks
- Receptionist tasks
Many senior dental assistants are CPR and Intraoral Radiographic-certified.
Orthodontic Dental Assistant Job Description
Orthodontic dental assistants work in orthodontic offices. Job responsibilities include:
- Preparing exam areas
- Sterilizing orthodontic tools
- Providing chairside assistance
- Placing, replacing, and removing brackets, wires, springs, and bands
- Educating patients about braces care and aftercare
- Maintaining patient records
- Taking X-rays and dental molds
FAQ
What are some expanded functions of a dental assistant job description
What are the main duties of a dental assistant?
How would you describe a dental assistant on a resume?
Look for bilingual dental assisting candidates to provide dental care to a broader range of clients.
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