What do Dental Assistants Do

Dental assistants use their education and training to provide a range of preventive and supportive oral health care services to you. They do this under the direction of dentists, dental hygienists and denturists. They also play an important role by supporting the dental team to ensure you are comfortable and receive efficient care.

You will typically see a dental assistant:

• prepare patients for treatment
• obtain health history and vital signs
• prepare treatment rooms
• maintain a clear line of sight for the operator
• transfer instruments
• operate the air/water syringe and suction units
• perform infection prevention and control services
• provide direct patient care services*

Dental assistants also provide pre- and post-operative instructions for patients, and oral health promotion and programs for the public.

*These include various services that involve working in a patient’s mouth. A dental assistant must be authorized by us to be able to provide each of these Entry Practices and Advanced Practices. We authorize based on formal education, training, and examination.