Dental assistants (NOC 3411)

Dental assistants help dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists while patients are being examined and treated. They also do clerical work.

Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a dental assistant is like.

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Dental assistant

WorkBC's Career Trek

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Dental assistants can be certified or uncertified. Only certified dental assistants (CDAs) may perform “intra-oral” duties inside a patient’s mouth. Uncertified or “chairside” dental assistants perform only “extra-oral” duties outside a patient’s mouth.

Certified dental assistants:

• Take and develop X-rays
• Polish teeth and clinical crowns
• Apply fluoride and sealant
• Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts
• Make temporary crowns and restorations
• Remove stitches from wounds
• Take and record vital signs as needed
• Apply and remove rubber dams for dental procedures
• Apply topical anaesthetic and agents to reduce sensitivity and tooth decay

Chairside dental assistants:

• Schedule appointments
• Keep records of patients’ dental work
• Prepare patients for dental exams and help the dentist during the examination
• Sterilize and maintain dental instruments and equipment
• Prepare dental instruments and filling materials
• Teach patients about oral hygiene
• Invoice patients
• Order dental and office supplies

Under a dentist’s supervision, chairside dental assistants with a radiography designation can also expose X-rays.

Dental assistants work in clean, well-lit dentists’ and orthodontists’ offices, hospitals, public health centres, clinics and educational institutions. They usually work 40 hours per week. Some may work Saturdays or evenings.

Dental assistants wear gloves, masks, eyewear and protective clothing to shield themselves and their patients from infection. They follow safety procedures when taking X-rays.

Demand for dental assistants is expected to remain strong as B.C.’s population grows, as people become more aware of good dental hygiene and as they keep their natural teeth longer. Demand for cosmetic dental work, such as laser whitening and caps, is also growing.

Because certified dental assistants can perform a wider range of duties than chairside dental assistants, they have more job opportunities and higher salaries.