As part of the dental assistant job description, dental assistants may provide both clinical and administrative support in a dental office working along side dentists, dental hygienists and dental technicians. In Ontario, there are both Level I and Level II dental assistants. Level I assistants are chairside assistants, while Level II assistants do chairside duties and intra-oral duties.
- Preparation of the working area
- Sterilization of instruments
- Handing instruments to the dentist or hygienist
- Suctioning the oral cavity
- Preparation of filling materials
- Expose, process and mounting of radiographs and photographs as specified by HARP
- Performance of simple laboratory procedures
- Recording data on patient’s record or chart
- Patient and community education on oral health (extra-oral)
- Other extra-oral duties as required by the dentist
- Holding curing light
- Placement and removal of articulating paper for occlusal adjustment
- Supporting the impression tray in the mouth
- Instruction in care and maintenance of pre-fitted appliances
- Holding a surgical flap that has been prepared and reflected by a dentist
National Mandatory Core Duties
- Chairside Dental Assisting (Level I)
- Dental radiography
- Mechanical polishing of the coronal portion of the teeth (not including any instrumentation)
- Placement and removal of rubber dam
- Taking of preliminary impressions of teeth for study models
- Topical application of anti-cariogenic agents
- Oral hygiene instruction with an intra-oral component
- Dietary counseling relative to dentistry
- Application of treatment liners (no pulpal involvement)*
- Application of matrices and wedges*
- Application of materials topically to prepare the surface of the teeth for pit and fissure sealants
- Application of pit and fissure sealants
- Application of topical anesthetics
- Application of desensitizing agents
- Whitening of the coronal portion of the teeth using materials generally available to the public without prescription
*Controlled acts not allowed in Ontario at this time.Optional Level II Duties in Ontario (with NDAEB certificate)
- Polishing restorations
- Oral irrigation
(Listed with RCDSO prior to January 1, 2000)
- Chairside Dental Assisting (Level I)
- Mechanical polishing of the coronal portion of the teeth (not including any instrumentation)
- Placement and removal of rubber dam
- Application of pit and fissure sealants
- Taking of preliminary impression of teeth for study models
- Topical application of anti-cariogenic agents
- Oral hygiene instruction with an intra-oral component
- Patient reception and dismissal
- Appointment book control and managing recall system
- Block out times for reserved emergency and new appointments
- Maintaining and controlling business area
- Handle all incoming calls promptly and efficiently
- Patient follow-up treatment calls
- Public relations
- Bookkeeping
- Managing receivables and payables
- Prepare and balance bank deposits on daily basis
- Age and prepare outstanding account statements
- Maintaining financial records
- Incoming mail, invoices, packing slips and statements (forward to appropriate person for verification and/or payment)
- Maintaining file system
- Ordering and receiving supplies
- Performs required part of consultation
- Reviews medical history and explains office policies and procedures
- Makes a definite financial agreement with each patient/parent in accordance with the financial policy of the office. Prepares financial agreement form for each patient
- Monitors patient progress through each treatment
- Sends the patient records for consultation with appropriate specialists as required
- Co-ordinates goodwill program
- Helps to co-ordinate practice building and public relations efforts with patients, parents and referring professionals
- Print and proofread patient correspondence
- Keeps treatment acceptance rate within practice goals
- Ensures the follow-up of "will-advise" and mail-in referrals
- Educates patients in practice policies such as finance and appointment as evidence by patients complying with policies.
For more information on dental assistant duties and job descriptions, see Code of Ethics and Why is certification important?