Dental Assistants
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
Medical software
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- 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
high school diploma/GED
usually needed
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.