Career Summary

Dental assistants perform a wide range of tasks requiring technical as well as people skills. Some of their duties include helping patients feel comfortable during examinations and procedures, taking and processing dental X-rays, sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and recording patients' medical history.

Some dental assistants prepare materials for impressions and restorations, assisting in the construction of dentures and models of the teeth and mouth, and providing patients with oral care instructions following certain dental procedures. They may also be called upon to assist in the daily operation and management of the office by answering the phone, collecting fees for services, and maintaining a computerized inventory system. Those with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns.

Dental assistants need to be outgoing and cheerful because they are usually the patient's first impression of the dentist office. Another important aspect of dental assisting is aiding the dentist during oral surgery, which requires that an individual be able to anticipate the dentist's needs and sit still and remain alert for several hours through longer procedures.

Dental assistants work under the supervision of a dentist and usually work in dental offices, public health clinics, hospital dental clinics, health maintenance organizations, dental schools, nursing homes, insurance companies (claims), government agencies, the armed forces, and dental product sales.