When you go to the dentist, you probably don’t think about how much work your dental assistant puts into your experience. However, they do a lot more than you would ever expect just to ensure that your dental appointment goes as smoothly as possible. Because the first week of March is Dental Assistant Recognition Week, there is no better time to learn more about the different jobs of your dental assistant. Continue reading to find out about their responsibilities.
Preparation and Take Down
Before you even make it to your treatment room at the dental office, your dental assistant has been working hard to make sure that the space is ready for you. There are all sorts of strict cleaning protocols that are put into place to ensure that you are in a sterilized and safe place to receive treatment. The dental assistant cleans anything that was left over from a previous session and sets out all of the sterilized instruments that will be used during your appointment. When you leave the practice, this starts up all over again.
Patient Counselling
Dental anxiety is something that many patients deal with when they come to the office. Some people even have dental phobia, which makes it difficult for them to seek the essential dental care that they need. A dental assistant helps to make patients feel as comfortable and calm as possible while in the dental chair. Their skills with patients can make the difference between a quick treatment and an anxiety including experience.
Assisting the Dentist
Generally, a dental assistant is the one who begins your appointment by taking you to your treatment room and discussing your needs. During your appointment, they help out your dentist by handling the dental instruments and controlling the rinsing and suction. They are also the ones that take impressions of your teeth and provide post-care instructions for after you receive treatment.
Office Management
Even though the dental assistant is usually the one that you are talking to when you are at the practice, their responsibilities span much further than face-to-face interactions. They also work behind the scenes. Other things that are necessary to keep the practice running smoothly includes ordering supplies, scheduling appointments, and other administrative tasks. In fact, they are some of the best multitaskers in the entire office!
Now when you go to the dentist, take some time to appreciate your dental assistant. They are what makes it all possible at the dental office!
About the Author
Dr. Pamela J. West earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and earned a Masters in Aesthetics through extensive postgraduate training at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. She works with a team of skilled dental assistants so that everything runs as smoothly as possible. For more information or to schedule an appointment at her office in Las Vegas, visit her website or call (702) 844-6224.