Whether you are a dental assistant or planning to become one, cleaning the dental instruments is like a daily sunrise task at which you need to be an expert. Here is a step-by-step process of cleaning dental instruments. The process is divided into different steps, and the details of each are described below.

Step 1: CLEANING

The cleaning of dental instruments it nothing more than removing the dirt, the organic matter along with other contaminants.

You can clean the instrument through two types of procedures, such as:

a. Manual Cleaning

Manual cleaning requires you to apply action to the surface of instruments physically. To clean them, you can use a soft-bristled brush, detergent, running water, and a sink with deep tub tap.

b. Mechanical Cleaning

Here you can make use of water jet washers or low-frequency ultrasound. They operate under different conditions of time and pressure.

Step 2: RINSE

Secondly, after cleaning the instrument, you should carefully rinse them with filtered water.

Step 3: DRYING

You must open the instruments and dry them with either compressed air pistols without oil and humidity or you can dry them with paper towels and clean lint-free cloth.

Step 4: INSPECTION

This step verifies that how efficiently you have cleaned the instruments. So if you find it necessary, clean the instrument again or replace it. Moreover, if you find damaged instruments or the ones with corrosion indications, separate and send them to re-wash.

Step 5: PACKAGE

Last but not the least for autoclave’s sterilization, the materials that are strictly cleaned and dried must be packed in packages made with material that allow the passage of steam. The best one here is a surgical paper.

Step 6: STERILIZATION

It is the process that aims to destroy all microbial life forms through physical or chemical procedures. To ensure sterilization, it is important to follow all the above steps correctly.

If you have any questions in mind, please feel free to call Greatwood Dental Assisting Program at (281) 728-6012. We will be more than happy to help you.

If you are wondering how different would be being a medical assistant vs dental assistant and which one to choose, more or less, both professions are quite similar. For both, you will work under the supervision of senior dentists and physicians. They both play a supportive role in the office. Some of their duties include managing the records of patients and explaining to them certain procedures that they need to follow.

Though the two career paths have similar nature, there are some differences as well. The medical assistants can be divided into two categories. Some choose to go for administrative work while others opt for the clinical. On the other hand, as a dental assistant, you will work and help with everything in the dental office.

Job duties of medical assistant vs dental assistant

Both assistants provide patient care either directly or indirectly and differ depending on what their supervisors ask them to do. The main difference is that the medical ones work with various parts of the body. In contrast, the dental ones work only with the mouth.

As a medical assistant, these are some of the duties you may perform, such as:

• Schedule patient appointments and tests.
• Go through the medical history of patients and update them.
• Manage records and accounts of a patient.
• Maintain lab and office equipment.
• Assist senior doctors during checkups and exams.
• Collect urine or blood samples for lab tests.

As a dental one, some of your duties include:

• Get patients ready to see the dentist.
• Manage patient record.
• Maintain office supplies.
• Clean the instruments before and after the procedures.
• Carry out billing and payment procedures
• Make patients feel relaxed before and after procedures.

If you have any questions related to this blog, feel free to call Greatwood Dental Assisting Program at (281) 728-6012.

A dental assistant is what makes a dentist more efficient. Choosing it as your career will require you to be responsible with the ability to work with others as a team. A pediatric dental assistant needs to have some extra skills as children have special dental needs. This is because they are still in growing age, and it is difficult to make them still and calm during the checkup. Some kids have dental phobias, and an assistant has to make them calm before the checkup so that it goes smoothly.

Duties of a Pediatric Dental Assistant 

As an assistant, you will help the dentist during the whole process from receiving a child patient to getting him or her ready for the checkup to giving the guidance for aftercare.

Checkup

Before the checkup, it will be your duty to keep things in order. This includes getting ready the dental seat and instruments. During the checkup, you will pass on the instruments, clean the ones needed again. Afterward, you will wash all the used tools.

Patient records

Apart from assistance during the checkup, you will also be responsible for handling the patient records. This includes entering the record of new and current patients. You will also handle the billings and take follow-ups.

Inventory

Along with the above duties, you will have to keep an eye on the inventory. If any item is in low quantity, you will contact the vendors and place the order. You will also organize the existing inventory and keep them safe from any damage.

Aftercare

It will be your duty to guide children about how to take care of their teeth after the checkups. You will provide them simple health tips and anything else that the dentist requires you to.

Get enrolled in our dental assisting program. Call Greatwood Dental Assisting Program at (281) 728-6012, for more details.

There was a time when no female dentist or a research assistant existed. And there was also a time when no male was found as a childcare provider or a flight attendant. But time has changed, and this line of division is not visible in today’s modern society. Society and mindset have advanced. You will find females in every possible field of work. Females are even working as pilots and males working as secretaries and nurses. Then why leave behind the field of dentistry? So yes, male dental assistants do exist and are here at your service.

It is a good time to live in where the self-created boundaries of gender biases in career, are diminishing. And the society is laying less focus on the career paths of males and females. If you have not come across a male dental assistant until now, ask your friends they must have met one or two.

Why would it be great?

Males can do a great job being dental assistants. It is because this job requires standing and immobility in awkward positions for long hours, which may cause immense pain and muscle contractions. As compared to females, males are naturally strong and can easily handle physical stress.

Apart from physical strength, this job requires a strong heart. Some surgeries can involve heavy blood loss, and you need a hard heart to witness and provide assistance in situations like these.

Being a dental assistant means you need to be a multiplayer. An assistant not only assists the dentist before or after the checkup or surgery, but they also play an important part in handling a dental clinic—a dental assistant helps in maintaining patient records, bookkeeping, checking on office supplies, and much more. A male can handle multiple chores with much less trouble.

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If you want to know more about male dental assistants, call Greatwood Dental Assisting Program at 281-728-6012.

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A dental assistant is a person who acts as the right hand of a dentist. They carry out various tasks, including assisting the dentist during the dental procedure and cleaning the instruments before and after the procedure, comforting the patients, maintaining patient records, and much more. If you are a people’s person and love to do multitasking, you can be a perfect fit for this job. However, there are pros and cons associated with every job, and the same is the case with being a dental assistant.

• Pros
  • Job growth- The trend of the job market is on growth. There is continuous research regarding the relationship between oral and overall health. Resulting in an increased demand for dental services. So the dentists are expected to hire more assistants to cater to the growing demand.
  • Short training- You don’t need a full 4-year college degree to get this job. The training period is much shorter, which usually takes up less than a year, all with an affordable fee.
  • Good Earning Potential- You can get a job with a healthy amount, and it can increase with experience and certifications.
  • Varying Job Duties- No two days will be similar for you, with one day you will be busy with the dental procedure and the next day lost into the registers of patient’s records.
• Cons
  • Fluids- A part of your job would include cleaning up patients’ bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, and pus. Not everyone can be comfortable with it, but if you can handle it, you may have a wonderful career ahead.
  • Body – A part of your job will include sitting in an awkward position for long hours, resulting in headaches, backaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, or numbness in arms. However, you can counter it by doing exercise and routine stretching.  

After examining the pros and cons, if you think you have what it takes to be a dental assistant, call Greatwood Dental Assisting Program at 281-728-6012. And get to know more about our training program.

The health care industry is the fastest growing industry in the world, and the best thing is that it guarantees you a lifetime job. If you like the idea of working in the medical field but are afraid to spend years into training, why not become a dental office assistant?

Do you care about helping others and have nerves to see a little bit of blood? If yes, then working as a dental assistant might be the perfect job for you. Still not convinced?

Let us dig a little bit into the benefits of becoming an assistant.

1. Forget the Boredom

Working in a dental office means that you will rarely get time to be bored. You will always be busy doing something new and interesting. You will learn something new every day, and it will grow you professionally. For instance, cleaning the surgery tools, handling the patient queries and payments, or keeping track of inventory. This job can make you a master of all.

2. Calm Work Environment

You will most likely work in a private dental office in a calm and professional environment with no rush on your nerves. The office environment will be comfortable and enjoyable, unlike in many other medical fields.

3. Flexible Work Timings

Moreover, you will have the advantage of working flexibly. You can either apply for a full-time or part-time job, depending on your schedule. While the working hours of private dental offices are usually fixed, if you choose to work in a hospital, you will have much more flexible timings.

4. Easy Training

Unlike other medical fields, the training for becoming a dental office assistant is relatively easy and does not take years of college degrees. All you need is a high diploma and a little bit of training to get going.

A 10-week training program by Greatwood Dental Assisting Program is waiting for your enrollment. For further details, please call us at 281-728-6012.

A dental assistant is an important member of a dental team. They work as the right hand of a dentist and assist them through the whole dental procedure. They increase the efficiency of a dentist to deliver high-quality oral health care. Not only that, but they also help patients to calm down before and after the checkup. Apart from these, there are lots of other responsibilities that a dental assistant carry out, such as:

• They make sure that the room environment is clean and free form all sorts of infections. Cleaning the instruments before the checkup and washing the used ones afterward, is also their duty.
• They carry out some general tasks too. Such as helping the dentist in collecting information about the oral health of a patient and managing their records.
• Some of them take extra training and become eligible to take x-rays and models of teeth.
• One of the important duties of an assistant is to guide the patients on how to take proper care of their health. As each patient have different oral health conditions and treatment, therefore, an assistant studies their conditions and gives the guidelines.
• They also keep track of office supplies and contact the vendors.
• They help in handling the reception work too. The work includes communicating with the patients to schedule appointments and tracking the billing information.
• They also act as a bridge between a patient and the dentist. At moments when a patient is unable to visit the clinic but needs emergency dental care. An assistant can communicate the situation to the dentist and convey the instructions back to the patient.

If you want to know more about the responsibilities of a dental assistant or about Greatwood Dental Assisting Program, call us on 281-728-6012. We would be glad to hear from you.

A dental nurse or assistant is an important member of a dental team. They help to make sure that good care is provided to the patient. It is important for an assistant to have a calm and friendly attitude so that patients get comfortable before and after the checkup.

Some patients may come for regular check-ups and some may come with severe pain or complications. The dental assistant reassures the patient and brings them to ease. They also support the team during overall patient care.

Discussed below are some of the duties that a nurse must be able to carry out.

• A dental nurse works closely with the dentist and provides assistance throughout the checkup. He or she prepares all the necessary instruments and materials required during the checkup. Moreover, they are also responsible to clean the used equipment.
• They ensure that the environment is clean and free from all sorts of infections.
• Some other duties can include helping the dentist to record information regarding the oral health and medical history of a patient. With additional training, a dental assistant may also take x-rays, make models of teeth and take impressions. They may also apply fluoride varnish that helps prevent tooth decay.
• They may instruct the patients on how to maintain proper oral hygiene before and after a dental procedure. For example, they may teach the patients the proper way of brushing and flossing.
• They also keep in contact with the vendors to handle the office supplies.
• May also help in reception work too, communicate with the patients to schedule appointments and keep a track of billing information.

This field promises a rewarding career and its demand is in continuous growth. If you want to know more about Greatwood Dental Assisting program please visit our website or call us on 281-975-3489. We would be more than happy to hear from you.

In every job, employees will perform higher than average when happy and at ease
with their daily 9-5. The life of a Dental Assistant is no different. There are many
comforts and perks that come with this job, which might help explain all the smiling
faces you see every time you visit. We want to mention 5 main incentives and
influences around the career path of a Dental Assistant, to better understand why
the majority seems so pleased.
When it comes down to it, we all want to be recognized for our hard work. For
many in this field, recognition never seems to be far off. Many assistants have
reported that they often feel valued by their employer and secure in their job
greatly for this reason alone. Whether it be accommodation, flexibility or simple
verbal recognition, every individual will feel compelled to continue at their best
after their dedication has been appreciated.
Being a Dental Assistant does not confine you to a lab coat and scrubs. While many
find employment with private dental practices, this career field offers many diverse
job placements. Satisfaction was reported higher from assistants who chose to
work in a specified field rather than general dentistry. Assistant jobs, such as those
in the military or government funded practices, may offer a change of scenery
increasing moral in the work environment. While busy at times, there is often a
feeling of togetherness associated with private general practices. They offer a
“working-family” environment due to the small amounts of individuals employed.
This too helps to increase job moral and satisfaction levels.
Of course, the level of certification varies dependent upon the job at hand. An
assistant who has not been DANB certified is subject to slightly less job satisfaction
than one who has been certified. This may be related to owning the knowledge of
the career you have chosen and one’s ability to assert themselves into a workplace
they may improve. Certification level also administers a portion of a Dental
Assistants’ salary. The number one motivator for the masses has always been
money, an ability to live life affordably at minimum.
To become a dental assistant, contact us about our dental assisting program near
Houston.

While many people might use the two titles interchangeably, there are distinct differences between dental assistants and dental hygienists.

Although dental assistants and dental hygienists perform fairly similar things on a day-to-day basis, they are not different names for the same job.

The primary difference between a dental assistant and dental hygienist is their level of interaction with the patients. While a dental assistant provides direct aid to dentists, conducting office tasks, and small, supervised jobs on patients’ teeth, a hygienist often works one-on-one with a patient and does not require constant supervision.

Dental Assistants: An Overview

The duties of a dental assistant can vary from office to office. However, generally speaking, dental assistants work directly with dentists, or support front-office operations.

Some of the typical duties performed by dental assistants are given below:

• Laying the equipment and sterilizing instruments 
• Obtaining patients’ dental records
• Preparing patients for the dentist’s exam
• Offering assistance like handing instruments to dentists during procedures
• Preparing impression materials, anaesthetics, and cement
• Taking impressions of patient’s teeth (moulds)

• Taking and processing X-rays
• Instructing patients on proper dental hygiene
• Removing sutures
• Billing patients and handling payments
• Ordering dental supplies
• Performing general office work

Some states require that dental assistants be licensed. Some states have regulations that require aspiring dental assistants to complete a one-year certificate or diploma programs. 

Dental Hygienists: An Overview

The dental hygienist’s sphere of duties covers various areas including pre-procedure preparation and care, in-office treatment, and post-procedure care. 

A dental hygienist performs more advanced tasks that involve direct patient care. His duties include:

• Gathering health information and history from the patient
• Polishing patients’ teeth
• Removing hard and soft deposits from teeth
• Cleaning teeth including removal of tartar, plaque, and stains 

• Examining gums of patients for any irregularities
• Taking and processing x-rays
• Applying fluoride treatments
• Taking impressions of patient teeth (moulds)
• Prepare a patient’s dental health chart
• Administering anaesthesia
• Tending to sutures and dressings
• Preparing clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests
• Advising patients on proper brushing and flossing habits

Dental hygienists must hold an associate’s degree (two years) to practice and a state license in the field. Other less common options include certificates, bachelor’s degree (four years) and master’s degrees (two years full time).

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) has projected a growth of 19% in the dental hygiene field until 2024, which is considerably faster when compared to other career fields.