Overview
Dental assistants prepare patients for dental examinations and assist dental practitioners, hygienists and therapists in providing care and treatment. They also perform other roles if required, including support for reception and office administration.
Work is in dental surgeries, hospitals, private dental practices or community health centres.
Suited for those with good customer service and communication skills.
Day-to-day
- greet patients and prepare them for treatment
- mix materials for fillings; sterilise and prepare instruments
- arrange and hand instruments, medication and dental materials to practitioners
- prepare dental materials and develop X-rays
- use suction devices and water sprays
- perform routine maintenance on equipment
- may advise patients on dental health education and post-operative care
- may act as receptionist for dental practitioners, perform billing and other clerical tasks.
Considerations
- Stressful
To become a Dental Assistant
-
Formal qualifications are not required, however a qualification or a traineeship improves employability. Traineeships are a kind of apprenticeship;
Learn more about traineeships
-
You may also need:
- working with children check
- first aid certificate.
Skills employers are looking for
