Most graduates of a Dental assistant program start out as entry-level Dental assistants working in a traditional Dental practice in Little Rock. With experience, you can become an office manager, or Dental sales representative. With even more experience and education, you can become a Dental laboratory technologist, Dental hygienist or even a dentist. There are many paths to follow in your career as a Dental assistant in Little Rock. The first step is getting an education at Dental Assistant School of Little Rock to help secure your future.
Prepare Tray Set-ups
Making sure supplies are available and ready for the dentist is a Dental assistantโs main role at a Dental
practice. There are different Dental instruments that are used for each procedure, from exams, amalgam fillings
and composite fillings, to crowns and root canals to name a few. Arranging these Dental instruments in the
proper order helps prevent cross-contamination. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Take X-rays
As a Dental assistant in Little Rock, you are responsible for taking X-Rays, making sure
X-Rays are clear of artifacts and uploaded properly to Dental management software systems. X-Rays can supplement
a Dental exam performed on the outer surface of the teeth. The X-Rays allows the dentist to see beneath the surface of
teeth and gums, to make a better diagnosis and decide on proper treatment.
Prepare Patients for Treatment
As a Dental assistant in Little Rock, you will help manage patients before, during and
after procedures and exams. Patients may come to the Dental office unaware of what to expect and this may cause them
to be anxious. They may also have a bad experience with another Dental practice in Little Rock. It is
an opportunity for you to calm them down, fully explain what is going to happen and that they will be in good hands with the dentist.
Before the exam or procedure, it is important for you to pre-screen the patient for new health concerns, allergies, environmental concerns in Little Rock, medications they are currently taking and any nutritional problems. After the exam or procedure, it will be your responsibility to educate the patient for
aftercare. Good communication is a key asset for a Dental assistantโs success.
Support Dentists and Hygienists During Procedures
The main function of a Dental assistant is to support dentists and hygienists during a procedure or
exam. You
will hand instruments, suction the patientโs mouth, prepare materials and identify the comfort level of the
patient. This support is called four hand dentistry, you support the dentistโs two hands with your own two
hands. Good communication and anticipation are key in the back and forth you will have with the dentist and
hygienist.
Disinfect and Sterilize Equipment
It is important to disinfect the rooms and sterilize all the equipment between patients. You will learn how to
use an autoclave to sterilize instruments and safeguard the patient from bacteria and viruses. With the influx
of patients and staff at a Dental practice, it is important for you to thoroughly disinfect the Dental chair,
fixtures, countertops, doorknobs, and any other surface that will be handled. This will keep everyone safe from
infection.
Manage Dental Records
As Dental records transition to digital formats, you will need to become familiar with Dental management
software. Many Dental practices in Little Rock are working toward a goal of 100 percent
digital records, and you will be a big part of this process. So, part of your job may be transitioning paper records to
digital formats. Also, while you are handling Dental records, it is important to remember guidelines
when sharing patient records, keeping information confidential for the patientโs privacy.