About This Career

Performs limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Prepares patient, sterilizes or disinfects instruments, sets up instrument trays, prepares materials, or assists dentist during dental procedures.
• Records treatment information in patient records.
• Assists dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
• Orders and monitors dental supplies and equipment inventory.
• Exposes dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Provides postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Instructs patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
• Takes and records medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
• Applies protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
• Schedules appointments, prepares bills and receives payment for dental services, completes insurance forms, and maintains records, manually or using computer.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Exposed to radiation more than once a month
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel