Dental Assistant

Job purpose

Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team.

Duties and responsibilities

• Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
• Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
• Preparing examination and surgical rooms by sterilizing instruments and moving equipment into place
• Preventing the spread of infection and disease by maintaining a surgically clean work environment
• Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
• Providing patients with instructions for oral care following treatment
• Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health;
  (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
• Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
• Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer
• Assisting in updating and maintaining client dental records
• asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse as needed
• Providing support to dentists and other staff as needed

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Oklahoma state dental assistant license required
• Expanded functions preferred
  • Radiation
  • Coronal Polishing / Topical Fluoride
  • Sealants
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Parenteral / Pediatric Anesthesia
  • Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

Working conditions

Dental practices run at a fast pace and dental assistants will be required to keep up with the flow of doctors and patients.

Physical requirements

Dental Assistants will be required to:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Stand for long periods of time.