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Description: Assist dentist, set up patient and equipment, and keep records.

Sample of reported job titles: Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant, EFDA (Expanded Functions Dental Assistant), Expanded Duty Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant, RDA (Registered Dental Assistant), Surgical Dental Assistant

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Tasks

• Prepare patient, sterilize and disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, and assist dentist during dental procedures.
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Record treatment information in patient records.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Assist dentist in management of medical and dental emergencies.
• Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.

Knowledge

• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Interests

• Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.

Tools and Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

• Dental dam supplies - Molar clamps; Rubber dam forceps; Rubber dam punches; Rubber dams
• Dental forceps - Cotton forceps; Extracting forceps; Hemostatic forceps; Splinter forceps; Tongue forceps
• Dental hand pieces or accessories - Dental handpieces; Electric endodontic handpieces; Electric general dentistry handpieces; Electric surgical handpieces; High-speed handpieces
• Orthodontic pliers - Band seating pliers; Dental crimping pliers; Dental pliers; Intraoral detailing pliers; Offset utility pliers
• Steam autoclaves or sterilizers - Autoclaves; Steam cleaning equipment; Steam sterilizers; Sterilizers

Technology used in this occupation:

• Accounting software - Intuit Quicken software
• Electronic mail software - Email software
• Medical software - Henry Schein Dentrix software; Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice management software PMS; Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft; The Systems Workplace TDOCS
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office software
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel

Note: This occupational description highlights important information for this occupation (ie, Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities). Additional detail is available from: O*NET OnLine.

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