Preventive Dental Assistant

Work setting

• Dental practice

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Prepare patients for dental examinations
• Supervise dental assistants in their health care functions
• Order dental and office supplies
• Perform administrative functions for the dental laboratory
• Prepare dental instruments and filling materials
• Perform reception and clerical duties
• Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
• Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant
• Schedule and confirm appointments
• Perform intra-oral duties
• Take and develop X-rays
• Invoice patients for dental services
• Polish and buff dentures
• Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts

Supervision

• 1 to 2 people

Credentials

Certificates, licences, memberships, and courses 

• Membership in the Canadian Dental Assistants Association
• Certification by the National Dental Assisting Examining Board

Experience and specialization

Technical expertise (dental)

• Polishing

Computer and technology knowledge

• MS Excel
• MS Word

Additional information

Security and safety

• Bondable

Work conditions and physical capabilities

• Fast-paced environment
• Work under pressure
• Tight deadlines
• Repetitive tasks
• Physically demanding
• Manual dexterity
• Attention to detail
• Ability to distinguish between colours
• Sitting
• Combination of sitting, standing, walking
• Standing for extended periods
• Bending, crouching, kneeling
• Hand-eye co-ordination
• Large workload

Personal suitability

• Client focus
• Efficient interpersonal skills
• Flexibility
• Judgement
• Team player
• Accurate
• Dependability
• Excellent oral communication
• Excellent written communication
• Initiative
• Interpersonal awareness
• Reliability

Benefits

Health benefits

• Dental plan

Other benefits

• Free parking available