Job Outlook for Dental Assistants:

How Much Do Dental Assistants Earn?:

A Day in a Dental Assistant's Life:

On a typical day a dental assistant who delivers patient care will:

• make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain dental records;
• hand instruments and materials to dentists, and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices;
• sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare tray setups for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care;
• sometimes prepare materials for making impressions and restorations, expose radiographs, and process dental x-ray film as directed by a dentist;
• sometimes remove sutures, apply anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment;

On a typical day a dental assistant who performs laboratory duties will:

• make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions;
• clean and polish removable appliances;
• make temporary crowns;

On a typical day a dental assistant who performs office duties will:

• schedule and confirm appointments;
• receive patients;
• keep treatment records;
• send bills and receive payments;
• order supplies and materials;

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