Do Dental Assistants Clean Teeth?
| Update: September 04, 2024
If you are thinking about becoming a dental assistant, you might be wondering whether a dental assistant can perform cleanings? This blog post provides you with everything you need to know about what dental assistants can and cannot do as well as answer the question of whether dental assistants can clean teeth.
If you’re interested in becoming a dental assistant, consider enrolling in UEI College’s Dental Assistant Training Program. Our program can be completed and you can earn a diploma in as few as 10 months, and we will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training that’s required for an entry-level dental assisting position.
Interested In Our Dental Assistant Program? CLICK HERE >
Are Dental Assistants Allowed to Do Cleanings?
Dental assistants are not permitted to perform cleanings because it requires specialized oral health training that dental assistants do not have. Dental assistants are only allowed to perform basic oral health procedures; they are not permitted to perform invasive procedures that require them to use a dental drill or prick. So, while a dental assistant can assist a dental hygienist with performing a cleaning, a dental assistant is not permitted to do a cleaning.
That said, if you’re thinking about becoming a dental assistant, do not get discouraged simply because you cannot perform cleanings. Dental assistants play an important role in dental offices, assisting dental hygienists and dentists in performing common procedures such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, and many other procedures.
Dental assistants perform many functions in dental clinics, including front office administrative tasks and back-office chairside assisting. Dental assistants are essential to every dentist’s office because they are the ones who greet patients, schedule their appointments, take them to the exam room, and assist the dentist or dental hygienist with the procedures patients have come in for. The warm, memorable personalities of dental assistants are often why patients return to a dental clinic. Dental Assistant Careers are very rewarding, so if you believe that becoming a dental assistant is something that you want, consider enrolling in UEI’s Dental Assistant Program.
What does a day in the life of a dental assistant look like?
A typical day for a dental assistant begins thirty minutes to an hour before a dental clinic opens. Typically, after opening a dental clinic, a dental assistant will review the patient’s schedule and prepare patient medical records for the dentist or dental hygienist performing a procedure. After that’s done, the dental assistant will typically prepare the exam rooms and make sure that the necessary instruments are in place for dentists and dental hygienists. Exam rooms and instruments must be prepared before the first patient arrives, so these tasks typically take place early in the morning before the clinic opens.
After the clinic opens, dental assistants typically greet patients and escort them to the exam room where their procedure will take place. Once at the exam room, a dental assistant will usually place the patient’s dental bib on and ask them about their medical history to update their medical records. During the patient’s examination, you may be asked to help the dentist or dental hygienist with the procedure they’re about to perform.
Dental assistants also help dentists and hygienists keep the patient’s mouth clean and dry, as well as handing them instruments. This is what a typical day in the life of a dental assistant looks like. Overall, dental assistants assist dentists with front office tasks such as answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients. They also assist them in the back office by preparing exam rooms, preparing patients for procedures, and performing chairside dental assisting.
Interested In Our Dental Assistant Program? CLICK HERE >
How Can You Become a Dental Assistant in California?
It may come as a surprise to you, but many states have not set education, licensing, and training requirements for dental assistants so long as the dental assistant works under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. However, some states have special licensing requirements for performing certain tasks such as taking x-rays, coronal polishing, and other expanded functions. For example, in California, dental assistants do not need a degree nor do they need the training to become a dental assistant; however, a dental assistant must be certified in radiography to legally operate dental x-ray equipment. That said, training to become a dental assistant equips an individual with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training they need to perform the duties of a dental assistant successfully. UEI’s Dental Assistant Training Program prepares students for entry-level dental assistant careers. The great thing about the program is that it can be completed and earn a diploma in as little as 10 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do dental assistants work on teeth?
Dental assistants are not permitted to clean teeth because cleanings require specialized training that dental assistants do not have. Dental assistants are only allowed to assist dentists and dental hygienists under their direct supervision.
2. Can dental assistants drill teeth?
No, dental assistants cannot drill teeth. Dental assistants can assist dentists, but they are not permitted to perform procedures involving a drill or dental prick.
3. Do you need a license to become a dental assistant?
No, in California, you do not need a license to become a dental assistant. Dental assistants are permitted to provide support to dentists so long as they are working under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
Interested In Our Dental Assistant Program? CLICK HERE >
