Dental assistants

National Occupation Code (NOC): 3411

Dental assistants assist dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists during the examination and treatment of patients and perform clerical functions. Dental assistants work in dentists' offices, community health centres, clinics and in educational institutions.

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Job Duties for Dental assistants

  • Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during examinations and dental treatments
  • Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
  • Prepare dental instruments and filling materials
  • Take and develop X-rays
  • Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant
  • Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts
  • Fabricate and place temporary crowns and restorations
  • Educate patients concerning oral hygiene
  • Invoice patients for dental services
  • Schedule patient appointments and record dental procedures performed
  • Order dental and office supplies
  • May perform intra-oral duties such as remove sutures, take and record vital signs, apply desensitizing agents, topical anaesthetic, anticariogenic agents, coronal whitening and apply and remove rubber dams.

Working Conditions for Dental assistants

Work is performed indoors, typically in a private clinic; some perform duties from hospitals or other large healthcare facilities. Rigorous safety measures are usually in place, with bodily fluids, oral hygiene ailments, and x-rays regularly exposed. As dental assistants work on patients from close quarters and in slim margins, they must be extremely attentive.

Alternate Job Titles

  • Certified Dental Assistant
  • Certified Intra-oral Dental Assistant
  • Chair-side Assistant - Dental
  • Dental Aide
  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Clinical Assistant
  • Intra-oral Dental Assistant
  • Licensed Dental Assistant
  • Preventive Dental Assistant
  • Registered Dental Assistant
  • Dental Team Assistant
  • Dental Assistant/receptionist
  • Certified Level II Dental Assistant - Dawson Dental - King City
  • Treatment Coordinator
  • Part-time Dental Floater Needed