- Consider the nature of the work as described by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dental assisting includes preparing the patient, sterilization of equipment and setting up instrument trays. Prior to procedures, dental assisting activities involve taking patients' dental x-rays, or impressions of teeth for casts. During procedures, the work is geared toward maintaining the field of operation via the use of suction, and placing and removing cotton balls. After the procedure, dental assisting focuses on post-operative care, and hygiene instruction.
- Dental assistance is traced as a recognized occupation to the twentieth century "Ladies in Attendance." Traditionally, dentists hired men and boys to work as assistants, according to Delmar's Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach. In 1885, a New Orleans dentist, Dr. C. Edmund Kells, hired a female to replace his male assistant. The idea became so popular with the public, that dentists began hiring females, and posted signs in windows that read "Ladies in Attendance" to advertise their female staff members. In 1923, a group of ladies met in Cleveland, and formed the American Dental Assisting Association, the first professional organization for dental assistants.
- The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) website identifies 70 broad ranging tasks representative of national core competencies, such as placing and removing dental dams. The functions dental assistants are allowed to perform vary by state, so the DANB also maintains separate lists for each state. For instance, dental assistants are permitted to polish the coronal surfaces of teeth in 36 states, but are not allowed to perform coronal polishing in 10 states.
- Keep in mind that performing basic dental assisting activities requires on the job training. Some states require dental assistants to complete a state-approved program. Other states require dental assistants to be licensed. Advanced dental assisting activities, such as radiography, require successful completion of the Radiation Health and Safety Exam offered by the DANB.
- Dental assisting activities are often confused with those of dental hygiene activities. Both dental assistants and hygienists take supportive roles in dental settings, but dental hygiene activities are preventative, or clinical in nature. For instance, a dental hygienist examines teeth, records the presence of abnormalities, removes plaque and performs root planing. Dental hygienists also need a Bachelor's degree to perform dental hygiene activities.
