A dental assistant diploma program prepares you for an entry-level position in a dental office. In a few short months, you could be a valuable member of an oral health care team, working side by side with dentists and administrative professionals dedicated to bringing the best in dentistry to your patients. A dental assistant diploma is the key to an exciting and rewarding career.
What Does a Dental Assistant Do?
A dental assistant manages a broad range of responsibilities in a dental care practice. On an average day, you’ll:
Prepare Tray Set-ups
Once a dental procedure begins isn’t the time to look for equipment or run out of dental supplies. Advanced preparation ensures the dentist has everything necessary to complete a treatment in the allocated time.
As a dental assistant, you’ll restock exam room cabinets, set up trays with the instruments needed for each exam and make sure that equipment is running properly.
In school, you’ll learn about many different dental instruments and how to set up trays for:
- Exams
- Prophylaxis
- Amalgam fillings
- Composite fillings
- Crowns
- Root canal
- Implants
- Orthodontic procedures
- Oral surgery
- Extractions
Arranging them in proper order is a must to prevent cross-contaminating clean instruments as you work. The right preparation keeps patients safe and the schedule running smoothly. And patients will thank you for making their time in the chair as short as possible.
Take X-rays
Most dental problems require an x-ray to troubleshoot, it’s the only way to see beneath the surface of teeth and gums. Dental assistant diploma programs cover everything you need to know, including:
- X-ray terminology
- Radiation safety
- Darkroom procedures
- Film exposure and evaluation
- Digital and manual developing
- Patient shielding and positioning techniques
- How to troubleshoot processing errors
You’ll learn theory in the classroom but have the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals in the field and try the latest digital x-ray equipment.
Prepare Patients for Treatment
Many adults report visits to the dentist are stressful. Dental assistants begin preparing patients the moment they introduce themselves and start answering questions and educating them about procedures. Knowing what to expect helps people feel at ease. Dental assistants also pre-screen patients for medical issues that could impact treatments, including:
- New health concerns
- Drug, tobacco and alcohol use
- Allergies
- Medication lists
- Nutritional problems
Support Dentists and Hygienists During Procedures
Procedures from fillings to extractions require four skilled hands. Dental assistant diploma programs teach the essentials of chairside assisting and four-handed dentistry, including:
- Fitting holding devices
- Passing instruments
- Mixing fillings
- Managing air and suction
- Patient observation
You’ll serve not only as an extra pair of hands, but also a second set of eyes so the dentist can concentrate on the procedure.
Disinfect and Sterilize Equipment
Dental assistants protect their patient’s health by keeping instruments and exam room surfaces adequately sanitized. Although a patient’s risk of infection in a dental office is low, the CDC has identified a few cases in the last decade of disease transmission through blood-contaminated tools. In a dental assistant diploma program, you’ll learn about:
- Microorganisms
- Infectious disease
- How pathogens spread
- Preventing infection
- Instrument handling techniques
- Methods of sanitation, disinfection and sterilization
- Sterilization equipment, such as autoclaves
Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to practice safely and prevent the spread of disease.
Manage Dental Records
One of a dental assistant’s most crucial roles is to manage patient records. It begins before the visit with obtaining prior documentation, so the oral care professional can evaluate the patient’s complete dental history. Health updates, pre-exam screening results and verbal consent to treat should be noted and ready to review when the dentist arrives.
Documentation is done in real-time during procedures requiring general anesthesia. During exams, a dental assistant sits chairside and takes notes as each tooth is checked. Detailed records help dentists make the safest treatment decisions.
As the condition of each tooth is described, you’ll note periodontal probe measurements, pathologies, such as decay or fractures, occlusion characteristics, soft tissue quality, and signs of cancerous lesions. The dentist will use these notes later to craft an individualized treatment plan.
Graduates of dental assistant diploma programs know how to:
- Identify vital records
- Make legal requests for prior documentation
- Take clear, objective notes
- Comply with privacy regulations
The goal is to capture a complete picture of what happens whenever a patient visits the dentist.
Assist in the Lab
Dental assistants are qualified to help orthodontists create and maintain appliances. They also assist denturists by taking the mouth impressions used to create molds. As part of a diploma program, you’ll learn to mix powdered casting material to form a liquid that fills trays. Pressed against teeth, it slowly hardens and creates a perfect impression.
Perform Sealants, Fluoride Treatments and Coronal Polishing
Dental assistants can perform three popular treatments in most states under the supervision of a dentist or hygienist, including:
Sealants – thin liquid coatings that form a barrier over teeth, protecting them from decay. Teeth are cleaned, dried and coated with an acidic primer to roughen surfaces so the solution adheres. Sealants are then applied with a brush and cured with light.
Fluoride Treatments – fluoride is known to prevent cavities, but not everyone drinks from fluoridated public water supplies. Applied with a brush, swab or tray, fluoride treatments support healthy tooth enamel and restore lost minerals. Since most fluoride treatments are performed on children, diploma programs teach you techniques for keeping kids comfortable.
Coronal Polishing – polishing teeth above the gum line minimizes the appearance of stains and makes teeth feel clean, but more importantly, it smooths out surface imperfections that can harbor bacteria and contribute to cavities.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a career is a big step. With so many traditional jobs being replaced by technology, it’s critical to ask what you can do with a dental assistant diploma after graduation. Will it translate into a secure future? The good news for dental assistants is, a vocation school program provides all the necessary skills to get started and build a meaningful career.
Interested in graduating from a dental assistant diploma porgram? Are you ready to learn more about becoming a dental assistant? The Dental Assistant training program at Meridian College provides extensive hands-on training including a school externship at a dental office where you will assist the dentist in treating actual patients.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a dental assistant.