Explore unit group

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Dental assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

• • Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during the examination
  • Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
  • Prepare dental instruments and filling materials
  • Take and develop X-rays
  • Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant
  • Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts
  • Fabricate and place temporary crowns and restorations
  • Educate patients concerning oral hygiene
  • Invoice patients for dental services
  • Schedule patient appointments and record dental procedures performed
  • Order dental and office supplies
  • May perform intra-oral duties such as remove sutures, take and record vital signs, apply desensitizing agents, topical anaesthetic, anticariogenic agents and apply and remove rubber dams.

• Completion of an eight-month to one-year college or other program in dental assistance or Completion of secondary school with on-the-job training is required.
• Licensing is required to perform intra-oral duties in all provinces. In Quebec, intra-oral duties are not performed by dental assistants.

• In some provinces there are two levels of dental assistants: Level I - chair-side assistant and Level II - intra-oral assistant. Progression from Level I to Level II is possible with education, training and licensure.

• Dental hygienists and dental therapists (3222)
• Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants (3223)