Summary
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What does the dental assistant do?
Managing the office secretariat
The dental assistant takes care of the administrative tasks of the practice. He greets the client, answers the phone and records appointments.
He is also responsible for completing and updating patient records at each of their visits.
The dental assistant can also take care of the day-to-day accounting of the practice.
Finally, he manages the stocks of the various products used by the dentist and places orders with suppliers.
Assist with dental procedures
The dental assistant prepares the intervention. He installs the patient and arranges the necessary instruments. Depending on the care performed, he prepares dressings, amalgam fillings or materials for taking impressions.
Guarantor of hygiene, he maintains the premises, cleans and sterilizes the equipment used after each appointment.
The dental assistant provides the link between the practice and the prosthetists.
Note: this job is ultra feminized. Over 90% of dental assistants are women.
How much does a dental assistant earn?
The compensation of a dental assistant varies according to the size of the practice and its geographical location. Count between the minimum wage and €1,500 gross monthly for a beginner.
What are his working conditions?
Employee or employee
The vast majority of dental assistants practice with a liberal dental surgeon. The others are employed by health centers and hospitals.
work on saturday
The schedules are those of the office or the medical structure. In both cases, it is common to work on Saturdays.
A dress code to follow
Wearing a white coat is often required, as is the use of latex gloves when handling instruments.
What training to become a dental assistant?
The dental assistant professional qualification certificate
The certificate of professional qualification (CQP) of dental assistant, baccalaureate level, is compulsory to practice this profession.
This diploma is prepared on a work-study basis thanks to an 18-month training course. On the program: biology, immunology, dental pathologies, to which are added notions of computer science and secretarial work.
Access conditions
To access training, you must pass aptitude tests and a motivational interview.
You must be at least 18 years old and hold a college certificate, or a CAP or BEP.
The training takes place within the framework of a professionalization contract: it is therefore essential to find an employer to be trained on a work-study basis.
What are the required qualities ?
Versatility
To become a dental assistant, you must have both technical and administrative qualities, and know how to switch from one to the other easily.
Organization
The tasks performed being very varied, it is necessary to show rigor and method to carry them out.
Good communication skills
In contact with patients, you must be welcoming and dynamic, while knowing how to reassure them before the interventions.
To know more ?
Contact the Association for Training and Development of Dental Office Personnel.
The training it offers is approved by the National Education.
Content updated on 07/09/2012
Our tips:
Many structures can help you find an employer for your work-study contract. Remember to consult the announcements of the Pôle emploi and seek advice from the youth information points (PIJ) or local missions.