Surgical dental assistant vs dental hygienist

Differences between surgical dental assistant and dental hygienist duties and responsibilities

Surgical dental assistant example responsibilities.

• Manage medical records and document examination notes, prescriptions, and procedure details in EMR.
• Train as an anesthesia technician and certify in CPR.
• Assist dentist in prophylactic procedures: provide necessary tools, sterilize equipment, comfort patients.
• Bill major insurance providers using ADA codes and process incoming payments from insure and non-insure patients and insurance providers.
• Assist in oral surgery under local and twilight anesthesia in a private practice setting.Primary IV starter and administer anesthetics on command.
• Place catheters and IVs for procedures.
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Dental hygienist example responsibilities.

• Assist dentist to manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification.
• Assist front office with eligibility interviews and inputting information of future patients into Dentrix computer system.
• Perform all the same duties as a dental hygienist under the supervision of a RDH.
• Enter all services render, treatment plan and suggest into DENTRIX computer system; including clinical charting.
• Develop a course plan, instruction materials, and curriculum goals for students as a didactic instructor for radiology.
• Sterilize surgical instrument trays, set up and operate ultrasonice cleaners, maintain and operate autoclaves, assemble surgical trays.
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