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Dental assistants

OaSIS code 33100.01

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

Overview

Also known as

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

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

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Assisting and Caring for Others
4 - High Level
Applying New Knowledge
3 - Moderate Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
3 - Moderate Level
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance
3 - Moderate Level
Getting Information
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
2 - Low amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
5 - Physically touching or very close

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
5 - Extremely important
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously

Workplaces/employers

  • Clinics
  • Community health centres
  • Dentists' offices
  • Education institutions

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level
Control of Settings
3 - Moderate Level
Finger Dexterity
3 - Moderate Level
Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
3 - Moderate Level
Manual Dexterity
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
3 - Moderate Level
Coordinating
2 - Low Level
Critical Thinking
2 - Low Level
Decision Making
2 - Low Level
Digital Literacy
2 - Low Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Concern for Others
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important