---

Roles and Responsibilities

Business

A business dental assistant is the first person a patient sees when they enter a dentist office. They welcome you with a warm smile and ensure you have a satisfactory visit to the dentist. A business dental assistant handles the client intake and checkout process in an office setting. Duties include but aren't limited to: 
​

• Greeting the patients 
• Appointment Scheduling/Reminders 
• Filing Insurance Claims 
• Maintain Dental Records 
• Restock Dental Supplies 

Clinical

A clinical dental assistant completes the oral prep work before the patient see the dentist. They are the first person to say "open wide" before the dentist does! They are responsible for assessing your oral health to relay to the doctor. Duties include, but aren't limited to: 
​

• Checking vital signs 
• Review patient Medical History 
• Assisting with Dental Charting
• Inspect and Sterilize Dental Assisting
• Perform X-Rays 

---

Ideal
​Candidate

A Dental Assistant helps the dentist office run smoothly. They often work in a fast-paced environment. ​The ideal candidate for Dental Assisting should have or expect to adopt these core skills and/or characteristics:

• Detail-Orientation

 

• Critical Thinking

 

• Independent Working

 

• Patient-Centered Care

 

• Problem Solving

​

• Customer Service

Career
​Pathways

---

Reflection Questions

Faculty Favorite
​Resources

The most important part of gaging a prospective student interest is getting to know them. Here are a few conversation starters that can segue the topic to Dental Assisting. 

• If you could change one thing about your smile, what would it be?
• Tell me more about the best/worst experience you've have at the dentist office. How did it make you feel?
• Have you ever had braces or cavities? What do you remember most about that experience?

Are you interested in learning more about the field of Dental Assisting? Check out these online faculty favorite resources. 

• Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. 
• American Dental Assistants Association
• American Dental Association

Meet the Faculty

VIDEO PLACEHOLDER

"Quote goes here. I love my job and teaching students!"

---

Download PDF