Dental Assistant — on the job

Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants work with people up close. Some take mouth x-rays and process the films, remove stitches, clean up extra cement after a dentist fills a cavity. They keep the dentist's instruments neat, clean and organized. In some offices, they schedule appointments, keep records, send bills and order supplies.

Dental Assistants work under the supervision of dentists. To protect themselves and their patients, they wear gloves, masks and special eyewear. If they handle x-ray machines and processing, Dental Assistants wear protective clothing and also put a protective drape on the patient to minimize risks of exposure to radiation. They spend a good deal of time on their feet.

Volunteer State Community College, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an equal opportunity institution and ensures equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation or status as a qualified veteran with a disability or veteran of the Vietnam era.

This website was developed in part with funds received under Title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Act of 2006