Dental Assistant

The dental assistant helps the dentist to perform various duties smoothly and speedily, with minimum discomfort to patients. He/she assists the dentist by sterilising and preparing instruments, mixing fillings and impression materials, processing X-ray films and assisting in the administration of local anaesthetics.

Job Characteristics

• Doing reception, secretarial and clerical work.



• Meeting patients, putting them at ease and preparing them for examination, treatment and surgical procedures.



• Preparing dental materials and injections, rinsing and cleaning the patient’s mouth and teeth.



• Assisting during dental operations.



• Sterilising instruments and maintaining dental equipment.



• Developing and mounting X-rays.



• Keeping record of patients. 

Requirements

Secondary Education
Possession of a HIGCSE or outstanding IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, is required to be admitted to a South African technikon. A valid first aid certificate is also needed.

Recommended subjects
Biology, Mathematics (South Africa)
 
Tertiary Education
The National Certificate: Dental Assisting can be obtained from the Technikons: Free State, Pretoria, ML Sultan and Peninsula (one-year course).
  Formal training is currently not offered in Namibia. In Namibia, first aid courses can be completed at the Red Cross Society.

Personality
The prospective dental assistant must display a professional and empathic attitude towards patients, especially children. He/she must be responsible, practical, neat and patient. Students in this field should have a practical bend, and good manual dexterity.

Work Opportunities
Dental assistants are mostly employed by dentists in private practices.

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