Explore occupational profile

Version:
OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
Search the OaSIS

33100.01 – Dental assistants

Dental assistants assist dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists during the examination and treatment of patients and perform clerical functions.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Certified dental assistant
  • Certified intra-oral dental assistant
  • Dental assistant

Core competencies

  • Oral Communication: Active Listening to pay close attention to dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists during procedures to ensure information is recorded accurately, instruments are appropriately prepared and other instructions are followed
  • Social Perceptiveness to empathize with patients, address their needs sensitively and create a comfortable and supportive environment during procedures
  • Near Vision to observe the mouths of patients to assist dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists during procedures
  • Finger Dexterity to manipulate dental instruments smoothly and efficiently to prevent risk of accidents during procedures
  • Attention to Detail to ensure the accuracy and completeness of patient records, schedule appointments and process billing and insurance claims
  • Knowledge in Biology to understand the mechanisms of dental diseases, recognize common oral health issues and assist dentists and hygienists in providing appropriate care

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare patients for dental examination and assist the dentist during examinations and dental treatments
  • Sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment
  • Prepare dental instruments, fillings, compounds and various dental materials
  • Take and develop X-rays
  • Polish teeth and clinical crowns and apply fluoride and sealant
  • Take preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts
  • Educate patients concerning oral hygiene
  • Perform clerical duties such as prepare invoices, process payments, schedule patient appointments, record dental procedures performed and 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 coronal whitening, fabricate, place, and remove temporary crowns and restorations, and apply and remove rubber dams
  • May also perform pulp vitality testing as well as periodontal screening and recording.

Additional information

  • 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.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111)
  • Dental technologists and technicians (32112)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

33 – Assisting occupations in support of health services

Sub-major group

331 – Assisting occupations in support of health services

Minor group

3310 – Assisting occupations in support of health services

Unit group

33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants

Occupational profile

33100.01 – Dental assistants

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.