Dental Assistants

conventional interests patient certified dental assistant equipment preparation customer record data schedule appointments clinical duty

Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

What they do:
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
On the job, you would:
  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Ideas and Logic

  • use rules to solve problems
  • order or arrange things

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Medical software

  • Henry Schein Dentrix In Demand
  • The Systems Workplace TDOCS

Electronic mail software

  • Email software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
certificate after high school or
high school diploma/GED
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about dental assistants.