Dental Assistant Job Description

What is the job description of a Dental Assistant? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Dental Assistant? What does a Dental Assistant do?

Job description of a Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants are generally responsible for preparing treatment rooms for dental procedures. They also prepare patients and act in a welcoming and comforting way providing all the information to patients and answering any questions they may have.

This Dental Assistant job description example includes the list of most important Dental Assistant duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Dental Assistant profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Dental Assistant Duties and Responsibilities

Dental Assistant job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Preparing patients for dental work
  • Preparing rooms for dental procedures
  • Sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, setting up instrument trays, preparing materials, and assisting with dental procedures
  • Assisting in managing medical and dental emergencies
  • Recording treatment information
  • Ordering dental supplies
  • Maintaining equipment and supply inventory
  • Dental Assistant requirements
  • Act in accordance with laws and regulations
  • Keeping patient records in order
  • Exposing x-rays from dental diagnostics
  • Giving patients information on oral hygiene
  • Providing post-operative and post-treatment instructions to patients
  • Working with dental software

Dental Assistant Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Dental Assistant job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • Certification in an accredited dental assistance program
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of Dental Hygiene Program
  • Experience using computers
  • Experience with EMR
  • Team player
  • Good time-management skills
  • Great interpersonal and communication skills
  • Experience with taking X-rays
  • Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on company’s success
  • Critical thinker and problem-solving skills

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Dental Assistant starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Dental Assistant job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Dental Assistant may also reference it in preparation for the interview.