Dental assisting is a diverse career track involving a variety of compelling career opportunities. Name a specialty or a patient population, and there will almost certainly be a need for well-trained dental assistants to support those patients. Such is the case in orthodontics, where dental assistants play a valuable role in ensuring that practices are orderly, efficient, and welcoming.
If you love working closely with patients and want to make a genuine difference in their lives, orthodontic dental assisting could be your ideal niche. This orthodontics specialty presents its own unique challenges, though, and you will want to be aware of these as you seek job opportunities and take on a distinct set of dental assistant responsibilities.
Not sure if this field is right for you? In this guide to orthodontic dental assisting, we will answer several questions about orthodontic care and dental assisting in general. Chief among these: What does a dental assistant do? Keep reading to learn what this role involves and why it can be so appealing.
Starting Your Day in Orthodontics
No two days in an orthodontic practice look exactly alike, but there are a few routines and regimens that orthodontic dental assistants can expect. These largely echo the standard practices across the broader scope of dental assisting, but with a few specifics tied to orthodontics:
Preparing Workspace and Tools
In many ways, orthodontic treatment areas and workspaces resemble those seen in standard dental practices. Patient chairs are designed with comfort in mind. Backrests and headrests provide much-needed support while also helping orthodontists get a better view of the teeth and other structures of the mouth.
Although numerous dental practices feature private treatment rooms, orthodontic practices may replace these with open arrangements that ensure a dynamic flow of traffic.1 However, this calls for exceptional attention to detail on the dental assistant’s part, as orthodontic practices tend to treat a higher volume of patients but with shorter appointment durations for each individual.
In other words, dental assistants need to be even more proactive about ensuring these areas are properly organized and that necessary tools are made available. These tools may differ somewhat from those typically found in a dental office, though there is plenty of overlap. Commonly used orthodontic instruments include:2
- Intraoral mirrors for viewing the backsides of the teeth
- Explorers and scalers for removing o-ties from brackets
- Ligature directors for pushing archwires into place
- Mathieu pliers for working with chains or elastics
- Weingart pliers for placing archwires in the mouth
- Distal end cutters for cutting archwire
- Ligature cutters for cutting thin or lightweight wires
Reviewing and Preparing the Day’s Schedule
Because orthodontic practices pack such a high volume of appointments and patients into any given day or even hour, dental assistants must know what to expect and feel fully prepared for every appointment and every scheduling change. Through careful reviews and proper preparation, dental assistants can also discover valuable ways to promote a seamless flow throughout this fast-paced clinical environment.
The initial daily review of the schedule should include a brief overview of how many patients will visit the practice and which types of appointments or treatments they require. These may be classified based on whether patients are new or active. Additionally, necessary processes may be mentioned — for example, palate expander cementation or retainer checks.
Attending and Assisting Patients With Orthodontists
Dental assistants provide valuable support for orthodontists during appointments and procedures. They must be able to anticipate the needs of the orthodontist while handling basic tasks to expedite orthodontic visits. Direct interactions with patients provide further opportunities to build trust while keeping the practice running smoothly.
Communication on Procedures
Dental assistants interact closely with patients, offering not only kindness and compassion but also valuable insight so that patients know what to expect. This generally includes basic descriptions of dental or orthodontic procedures so there are no surprises later on.
The types of procedures described by dental assistants vary between practices, but in the orthodontic environment, it is common to highlight the placement and positioning of braces. In other situations, dental assistants may remind patients what exactly will happen when their braces are adjusted or eventually removed.
Pre-procedure communication is important, but dental assistants also continue to communicate with patients throughout the process to help ensure they still feel comfortable.
Chair Side Assistance
Chairside support facilitates expedited procedures and can improve the comfort of orthodontists and patients alike. Usually, this involves handing orthodontists specific instruments as they become necessary. In an orthodontic setting, dental assistants may be authorized to take X-rays and dental impressions as well.3 In this role, dental assistants function as a critical part of the orthodontic team, so strong communication is essential.
Managing Instruments and Equipment
In addition to handing orthodontists the necessary instruments, dental assistants are often tasked with organizing and keeping track of key equipment. They may set up trays for multiple work areas, taking care to place dental instruments in the appropriate order so that orthodontists can easily access them as needed.
Interaction With Patients
Dental assistants often serve as patients’ first point of contact. Their interactions with patients can play a powerful role in determining how the entire practice is perceived. Through friendly conversation and nuanced body language (and tone of voice), dental assistants can help patients feel more at ease.
Greeting Patients With a Smile
A friendly greeting can go a long way toward helping patients feel comfortable and confident. Many feel nervous as they enter the orthodontic setting for the first time, but kind hearted dental assistants can quickly put them at ease. Greetings should be warm and friendly, including not only an upbeat hello but also sharing names and a bit of small talk to break the ice.
Oral Hygiene Education for Patient
Patients often struggle to understand all that goes into oral hygiene, especially while they have braces or retainers. Dental assistants can provide valuable insight, revealing how frequently patients should brush and floss — and which tools will make these critical processes easier and more convenient. The goal is not to lecture patients, but to simply make them aware of best practices and potential risks or hazards.
A Session With Patient
Patients look to dental assistants for feedback and may ask various questions about orthodontic procedures and follow-up care. While they may sometimes be referred to orthodontists for additional information, dental assistants can answer many of their most pressing questions.
Simply having the opportunity to ask questions can help reassure patients, as they want to know that orthodontic staff members have their best interests at heart. Dental assistants can expand on this perception by actively listening to patients and making note of their tone of voice or body language. Their responses should be empathetic and informative.
Administrative Tasks
Administrative responsibilities play heavily into the typical dental assistant job description. In orthodontic settings, these tasks take on an increased level of importance due to the higher volume of patients. Administrative duties also account for the reality that the same patients will return regularly until they’ve achieved desired outcomes. Common administrative tasks performed by dental assistants in an orthodontic setting can include:
Updating and Managing Patient Records
Patient records provide valuable insight into patients’ health and well-being along with their orthodontic progress. These records must be meticulously maintained to ensure they are accurate and up to date.4 Information noted in these records might include:
- Personal information, such as the patient’s name and date of birth
- Dental and medical histories
- Notes about recent treatments and orthodontic progress
- Summaries of conversations about proposed treatments
- Details about treatment plans
- Mentions of instructions for at-home care or any pamphlets provided
- Details about consultations or referrals for other dental professionals
Scheduling Appointments and Follow-Ups
Most patients can be expected to return to orthodontic practices at least once every four weeks, although some maintain a six-week cycle. Either way, careful scheduling is essential, as even brief delays could cause problems with orthodontic treatments.
Dental assistants work closely with patients to determine which appointment times are most realistic based on their busy schedules. Patients and their parents or guardians should receive reminders to increase the likelihood of showing up for these crucial appointments.
Keeping Stations and Instruments Clean
Orthodontic practices, like any clinical setting, have the potential to infect vulnerable patients. Staff members are highly exposed to bodily fluids, and unfortunately, bacteria can also live on surfaces like dental chairs for shockingly long periods before they are transmitted to other patients. As such, dental assistants are tasked with promoting the principles of infection control within the orthodontic environment.
Sterilizing Station and Instruments
A number of precautions can limit the spread of bacteria, but sterilization is one of the most critical. Dental assistants must follow strict policies for handling and transporting instruments. Many types of equipment will need to be heat-sterilized between patients. Sterile instruments should be carefully stored and inspected prior to use.5
In addition, the workstation itself must be sterilized. This encompasses both the patient chair as well as environmental surfaces in which patients may not come into direct contact. In some cases, this means applying surface barriers, whereas other situations may call for EPA-registered hospital disinfectants.6 Dental assistants must understand these procedures and abide by them on a consistent basis.
Explore the World of Dental Assisting at Carrington College
Interested in orthodontics and helping patients maintain their oral health? Learn how to become a dental assistant with Carrington College by requesting more information today.
Sources:
- LaTrace, A. “Designing a Modern Orthodontic Practice.” Orthotown. https://www.orthotown.com/magazine/article/7368/designing-a-modern-orthodontic-practice
- DDP Elite USA. “A Comprehensive Guide to Orthodontic Instruments: Names, Uses, and History. ”Medium. https://medium.com/@ddpeliteusa/a-comprehensive-guide-to-orthodontic-instruments-names-uses-and-history-7ecaaa0468c
- Indeed. “What Does an Orthodontic Assistant Do? (Job Duties and Salary).” https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-orthodontic-assistant-do
- American Dental Association. “Documentation/Patient Records.” https://www.ada.org/en/resources/practice/practice-management/documentation-patient-records
- DePaola, L. et al. “Surface Disinfection.” Infection Control in the Dental Office. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120455/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings.” https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/summary-infection-prevention-practices/standard-precautions.html/#Sterile