Our friends over at Carrington have a good grasp of types of procedures a dental assistant may need to train for.

While we’re on the topic of Carrington, don’t forget to apply for our Carrington dental hygienist scholarship or the Carrington dental assistant scholarship.

You probably know, but it’s worth saying, dental assistants play a crucial role in supporting dentists and dental hygienists in providing quality oral healthcare. 

The specific procedures a dental assistant must know how to do can vary based on the dental practice's scope and the local regulations. In other words, don’t hold us to this list…

Here are some procedures that dental assistants may be required to know how to perform.

Hand Washing Procedure 

Yes, an assistant is going to do this…

A lot…

Washing your hands is one of the most important procedures for a dental assistant.

CDC guidelines recommend no rings, polish, or artificial nails.

Minimize cross-contamination using a hands-free wash station if available. Good hand washing is a must for infection control and the prevention of disease.

Opening procedures

Whether it’s your first day, or your thousandth…there are so many things to remember when working as a dental assistant. 

And every dentist is going to have their own way of doing things that a dental assistant will have to learn and get used to.

This is true for opening procedures. So ask your office what their opening procedures are. 

Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures

Disinfecting procedures are an important part of a dental assistant's job. 

Properly disinfecting and sterilizing the dental assistant cart, the utility cart, trays, overhead light, dental instruments, and equipment requires attention to detail. 

Normally, a single pass is not enough, so you’re gonna do it multiple times.

In addition, you may use soap and water on the patient's dental chair, and the dentist’s and dental assistant’s chair to keep harsh cleaners from ruining the upholstery.

Many offices have a dishwasher to clean instruments and an ultraclave for sterilization. Assistants will also package dental instruments.

Every dental assistant needs to follow strict infection control protocols to prevent cross-contamination and dispose of hazardous materials and waste according to regulations.

Chairside Dental Assisting

First of all, every office is going to have different setups for different procedures. As an assistant, it’ll be your job to prepare treatment rooms and set up instrument trays for those dental procedures.

Before the procedure begins, it’s the dental assistant who will greet the patient and walk them back. This is a great opportunity for small talk and for making the patient feel comfortable.

Next, the dental assistant will provide instructions for the procedure, along with helping the patient put on any protective equipment. A medical history, x-rays, and a pre-procedure screening or exam may take place at this time as well.

During the procedure, the dental assistant will hand instruments to the dentist during procedures, suction and retract to maintain a dry working area and assist with patient positioning and comfort.

X-ray Procedures

In order to take x-rays, an assistant must hold a board-approved certificate in dental radiology. Specific requirements vary by state. Radiograph procedures include:

1. Periapical - 2 or 3 teeth in their entirety 
2. Bitewings - crowns on upper and lower arches (detects cavities between the teeth)
3. Full Mouth Series - combines bitewing and periapical to display the teeth, roots, and surrounding structures
4. Panoramic - displays all the teeth, bone, and jaw structure 

The dental assistant is responsible for positioning and preparing the patient for dental x-rays. They will operate and maintain X-ray equipment safely and process and mount X-ray images for diagnosis.

Regulations usually vary by state to help reduce the exposure of radiation to the patient and the assistant.

Taking Impressions

Taking impressions is another procedure that dental assistants are responsible for. While some offices still use molds, many offices have a scanner which makes this process much easier.

Dental Charting

Dental charting is an important procedure for dental assistants. 

Dental assistants record information about patients' oral health and treatments in patient charts or electronic records.

Basic Dental Procedures

There are many basic dental procedures that dental assistants perform.

This includes cleanings (under supervision), suctioning, fluoride treatment, and applying topical anesthesia. 

Prohibited Procedures

Some procedures, you just can’t do as an assistant…

For example, in Arizona, you can’t

• Insert IV lines
• Take final impressions for any activating orthodontic appliance
• Intraoral carvings of dental restorations or prostheses 
• Final jaw registrations 
• Activating orthodontic appliances 
• An irreversible procedure

California shares: 

“"Basic supportive dental procedures' means fundamental duties or functions which may be performed by an unlicensed dental assistant under the supervision of a licensed dentist because of their technically elementary characteristics, complete reversibility and inability to precipitate potentially hazardous conditions for the patient being treated."

Most states, along with the Dental Practice Act, have laws that prohibit dental personnel from performing any service which they are not competent to perform

What’s your favorite dental assistant procedure?

We know there are lots more procedures we could cover. So let us know your fave in a comment on social!

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