Dental Assistants and Dental Laboratory Assistants perform some or all of the following duties:

• Prepare patients for dental examinations and assist dentists during procedures
• Sterilize and maintain dental instruments and clinical equipment
• Prepare dental materials and compounds for procedures
• Take and develop dental X-rays where authorized
• Polish teeth and apply fluoride treatments and sealants
• Take preliminary dental impressions
• Educate patients on oral hygiene and preventive care
• Perform administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, and inventory management
• Assist with intra-oral procedures where certified (temporary crowns, suture removal, vitality testing)
• Prepare plaster models and dental molds in laboratory settings
• Cast metal alloys and prepare dental prosthetics components
• Finish, polish, and adjust dentures and dental appliances
• Fabricate orthodontic bands and dental devices

These are the typical employment requirements and benefits associated with this occupation in Canada:

• Completion of an 8-month to 1-year dental assisting program OR secondary school with on-the-job training.
• Registration with a provincial regulatory body is required in most provinces except Quebec and Ontario.
• Certification by the National Dental Assisting Examination Board is required for intra-oral duties (except in Quebec).
• Dental laboratory assistants typically require secondary school education and up to two years of on-the-job training.
• Internationally educated applicants must verify provincial certification requirements before practice.
• Strong attention to detail, manual dexterity, and patient care skills are essential.
• Opportunities exist for career progression into advanced dental roles.