Dental Assistant Job Description

Approved 10/2005 Revised 08/2009

Dental Assistant

Job Description

Requirements: High School Diploma or GED

Radiology permit if specified by the client

Minimum 1 year experience unless specified by the client

Chairside Assisting:

Preparing and maintaining dental instruments, supplies, and equipment

Collecting and recording patient health histories

Patient management during dental procedures

Instrument transfer

Dental procedure isolation techniques

Preparation of dental materials, cements, amalgam, composite, impression materials, etc

Dental charting

Prevention and management of dental medical emergencies

Inventory control and management

DENTAL ASSISTANT SKILLS CHECKLIST

Dental Hygienist A B C D A B C D

Competency Standards Periodontal Management cont.

Obtain accurate medical history Preparation of dental compounds

Obtain accurate dental history Removal of excess cement with floss

Removal of excess cement with hand instrument

Radiography

Radiation safety

Adequate film quality correctly mounted Accurate reporting

Pour molds for study casts Trim molds for study casts Polish impressions Removing sutures

Obtains relevant structure views Application of post extraction dressing

Other (list): Removal of post extraction dressing

Fissure sealants

Periodontal Management Construction and fitting of mouthguards

Addresses predisposing factors Topical agents for treatment of tooth sensitivity

Detect plaque/ calculus from tooth surfaces

Root planning Micro-ultrasonics Soft tissue curettage

Removal of stains beneath margins of gums

Supervised administration of anesthesia Management of complications of anesthesia Sterilization of equipment

Maintaining sterile equipment Instruct patients in plaque control

Application of anesthetics Community dental health education

Amalgam restoration Placing amalgam Carving amalgam

Temporary sedative dressings

Placement of base or liner into prepared tooth

Removal of rubber dams Matrices

Industry safety standards Examination of lymph nodes Orthodontic separators Temporary restorations Chemotherapeutic agents Obtain endodontic cultures

NAME: ___________________________________________ DATE: _________________________

Please check the appropriate letter of proficiency for the following types of clinical situations and equipment

LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY

A = Able to teach & supervise

B = 1 year constant experience

C = Intermittent experience

D = No experience

DENTAL ASSISTANT SKILLS CHECKLIST

A B C D A B C D

Assistants Age Specific

Suction devices

Obtaining medical records Sending and receiving invoices

Prepare instruments for dental procedures Order supplies

Instruction on general oral care

Neo-natal Pediatrics Adolescents Adults Geriatrics

Professional Organizations and Advancement

List:

The information I have given is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hereby authorize Global Personnel Pool, Inc. to release checklist to client health care facilities of Global Personnel Pool, Inc. relating to my contract employment with that facility.

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

NAME:

TITLE:

DATE:

Please check the appropriate letter of proficiency for the following types of clinical situations and equipment.

LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY

A = Able to teach & supervise

B = 1 year constant experience

C = Intermittent experience

D = No experience

A

B

C

D

Hill Rom Advance 2000 BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR

Colin COOLING BLANKET Medi-therm hyper/hypothermia COMPRESSION STOCKINGS Kendall C.P.M. Danni Flex Kine Tec EAGLE MONITOR

EMERGENCY CART SUPPLY CHECKLIST FALL SAFE MONITOR

GAYMAR SOFCARE BED CUSHION HEMOCRON/ACT TESTING HOYER LIFT IV PUMPS Bard PCA Baxter FloGard CADD PCA

Equipment Checklist

A

B

C

D

General Chairside Assisting Exam

Name: _____________________________________ Date: ____________________

Directions: Read each question/statement carefully and choose the best answer. Circle the correct answer. Multiple Choice:

1. Some benefits of tray setups are 1. they save time setting up

2. the dentist sets them up for the assistant

3. they eliminate delay in searching for instruments 4. they are used only in restorative procedures 5. they are adaptable to any procedure A. 1, 2, and 3

B. 1, 3, and 5 C. 2, 3, and 4 D. 3, 4 and 5

2. Hand instruments on prepared try setups are placed in A. order of use

B. the order the assistant prefers C. size and order

D. random sequence

3. High-speed evacuation

1. increases the patient’s desire to rinse 2. decreases the patient’s desire to rinse 3. is used only with a rubber dam

4. decreases the aerosol emanating from the patient’s mouth 5. increases visibility

A. 1, 3, and 5 B. 1, 4, and 5 C. 2, 3, and 4 D. 2, 4, and 5

4. The assistant’s eye level when seated is A. Even with that of the dentist B. 4-6 inches below that of the dentist C. 4-6 inches above the patient’s shoulder D. 4-6 inches above that of the dentist

5. When working with a right handed dentist, which hand does the assistant use to transfer instruments? A. right hand

B. left hand C. either hand

D. no assistant is required

6. What aids are used to diagnose caries? 1. a millimeter probe 2. broaches 3. a sharp explorer 4. a ball burnisher 5. bite-wing radiographs A. 1, 3, and 4 B. 2, 3, and 4 C. 3 and 5 D. 3, 4, and 5

7. A cavity preparation that involves the buccal pit of a lower molar is an example of a A. Class I cavity preparation

B. Class II cavity preparation C. Class III cavity preparation D. Class IV cavity preparation

8. A wooden wedge is used to

A. prevent gingival amalgam overhang B. plug amalgam into small preparations C. extract teeth

D. splint loose teeth

9. What appliance is used to maintain the space of a prematurely lost second primary molar? A. a space opener

B. a space maintainer C. a space saver

D. it is not necessary to maintain this space

10. A mixed dentition consists of

A. deciduous and permanent teeth existing simultaneously in the child’s mouth B. deciduous teeth in the wrong places

C. permanent teeth that are rotated