Dental assistants play a crucial role in making sure a dentista��s office runs smoothly. With many different and demanding responsibilities to perform every day, dental assistants are an integral part of a dental practicea��s team. These dedicated professionals are often the first to greet a client as they step into the dental office. But what is the rest of a dental assistanta��s day like?
If you are interested in a rewarding career as a dental assistant, read on to discover what a day at work could look like if you pursue this career path.
Grads of Dental Assistant Courses Begin the Day Early
After dental assistant training you will typically start your day at the office early, before the very first client arrives. This gives you time to prepare for the busy day ahead. You might start by getting all the necessary equipment and instruments ready. You would head to the sanitation room where all instruments are sterilized, and take any instruments out of the instrument washer or ultrasonic cleaner. You would then place those instruments on trays, and bring them to each patient room or operatory for the dentist and/or hygienist to use.
Professionals With Dental Assistant Training Work Alongside Dentists
As the first clients begin to arrive at the dentist office, your day will begin in earnest. Youa��ll greet each client and set them up in the dental chair. By settling them in and making them as comfortable as possible, youa��ll help to put each client at ease as they begin their appointment. You will ask them specific questions about their dental habits and how they have been feeling. Then, you may perform duties such as x-rays, so that when the dentist arrives they have everything they need to get to work.
Once the dentist arrives to see the client you will assist them to help ensure that the appointment runs smoothly and you stay on time. The dentist youa��re working with will likely be seeing multiple clients at once in different rooms, so your assistance helps the dentist make the most out of the time they spend with each client.
Professionals With Dental Assistant Training Always Keep the Workspace Clean
Throughout your dental assistant career youa��ll also be responsible for keeping premises and instruments clean and sterilized. After each client has finished their appointment, youa��ll help them out of the dental chair, and then gather up the dirty tools used by the dentist or hygienist. Youa��ll bring these tools down to the sanitation room to be cleaned and sanitized. Then, you will prepare the patient room for the next client by wiping down the area and readjusting the necessary instruments and equipment. These important steps are vital to preventing cross-contamination, and, as a dental assistant, youa��ll complete them for every client you have that day.
As the last client leaves, youa��ll end the day by cleaning up the workspaces, attending to the x-ray machine and developers, sterilizing instruments, and performing other closing duties.
Are you interested in enrolling in a dental assistant course?
Contact an advisor at The Canadian Academy of Dental Health today to find out more!
