When you think of a dental assistant, you might picture someone sitting across from you during a procedure, handing the dentist tools, holding suction devices, or getting whatever is needed. While dental assistants do help the dentist, their role involves much more. They take on a variety of tasks, from preparing rooms and sterilizing equipment to handling administrative duties and communicating with patients—everything needed to keep the dental office running smoothly.Female dental assistant wearing blue scrubs smiling at a pediatric patient in a dental clinic.

The Best Dental Offices Have a Team with Diverse Responsibilities

For a dental office to provide the best patient experience, everyone needs to be working together. This means that the administrative and front desk staff, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and the dentists should all be collaborating and communicating. Although every member of the dental staff has a primary responsibility in the office, collaboration is what makes the office efficient.

Prepare Patients and Room for Treatment

One of the primary responsibilities of a dental assistant is to make sure that every room is correctly set up and prepared for every patient. The dental assistant will look at the schedule and procedure, read any notes made by the dentist, and prepare a tray with everything the dentist will need. In addition, dental assistants will help manage the inventory in the room. As they prepare for the procedure, they will make notes of anything that is running low so it can be replenished.

In addition to preparing the room, dental assistants will also prepare the patients for their procedure before the dentist begins. This not only includes getting them physically settled in the chair, but talking them through the procedure, answering questions, and making sure they understand what to expect. A quality dental assistant has great attention to detail and will always have a room that is prepared.

Provide Education in Oral Health

While many think that it is the dentist or dental hygienist that handles the majority of education in oral health to their patients, dental assistants are also a key piece of that dental education. Dental assistants may offer guidance in hygiene techniques, particularly after dental procedures. They will often be the dental professional who communicates the majority of aftercare instructions to patients after they have dental work done, including how to promote healing, optimal recovery, and what issues to be on the lookout for. When patients are going in for a procedure, it is typically the dental assistant who will walk them through what to expect from the dentist, provide updates during the procedure about what the dentist is doing and what to expect, and help patients manage their dental anxiety. Dental assistants get many questions and concerns that patients have during their visits. Because communication is so important when educating patients, dental assistants will work on developing and honing their communication skills during their training.

Offer Support to Patients During Procedures

While educating patients during their dental procedures is very helpful, there are times when dental assistants are there to offer support. In many cases, the dental assistant is the first clinical member of the dental staff a patient will encounter, and that initial encounter can set the tone for the visit. By projecting a calm and supportive attitude, dental assistants can help ease any anxiety their patients may be feeling. Good dental assistants work to build a strong rapport with their patients, actively listen to their concerns, and focus on anticipating their needs. If a patient is uncomfortable during a procedure, it is often the dental assistant who can recognize this, communicate to the dentist, and help the patient through.

Administrative and Clinical Work

While the clinical work dental assistants do daily is important, they are also responsible for many different administrative tasks. Many dental assistants help with scheduling appointments and managing the appointment calendar, managing and updating patient records, including treatment plans, help with processing insurance claims and assisting patients with billing questions. They are skilled at managing inventory in each treatment room to ensure that every room is ready for any treatment, exam, or procedure. Dental assistants, since they work on both the clinical and administrative side of the dental office, need to have excellent interpersonal skills to work with every member of the staff. Dental assistants will also need to hone their organizational and multitasking skills to ensure that everything is done efficiently and accurately.

What Does it Take to be a Successful Dental Assistant?

During your training to become a dental assistant you will have a combination of class time and clinical hours to give you all the information and experience you need to start a successful career. But being a successful dental assistant is more than just getting through the classes and clinic hours. Successful dental assistants spend time honing their “soft skills” that make the difference between an adequate dental assistant and a great dental assistant. A successful dental assistant has excellent organizational skills, communication skills, multitasking skills, and interpersonal skills. Many dental assisting programs will help hone these skills alongside the clinical skills so dental assistants are prepared to be successful.

Dental assistants have varied, busy days in the dental office. They need to be able to quickly switch from one task to another, moving from updating patient records to taking x-rays to talking a patient through a procedure. Many dental assistants say that the variety in their day is one of the biggest benefits of the job. If you are ready for a secure, interesting, and rewarding new career where you can make a difference, consider becoming a dental assistant with South Florida Dental Assisting School. Contact us today to learn more.