Technical Standards

To successfully complete the Dental Assisting curriculum, students must meet these performance abilities. Note that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, "[a] qualified person with a disability is one who can perform the essential function of a job with or without reasonable accommodation." Read the standards carefully and seek clarification if necessary.

Standard

Examples

Interpersonal abilities and relationships sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from various social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds

Establish rapport and professionally communicate with patients, families, faculty, staff and classmates
Respond calmly to, and remain focused during, stressful situations
Respond professionally and appropriately to emergency situations
Maintain composure in clinical and didactic environments
Establish productive working relationships
Work independently or in a team
Interpret non-verbal communication
Exhibit maturity when interacting with patients, families, faculty, staff and classmates

Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form

Emotional stability and mental alertness before, during or after the performance of patient care
Listen attentively
Able to provide pre-op and post-op instructions
Document assessment findings and treatment rendered
Use appropriate telephone etiquette
Perceive non-verbal communication
Demonstrate empathy

Critical-thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment

Identify cause-and-effect relationships in clinical situations
Integrate, analyze and synthesize data
Assimilate knowledge from lecture, laboratory and clinical arenas
Utse basic mathematical skills
Draw sound conclusions
Follow sequence of events for various standard operation procedures

Physical abilities and endurance sufficient to move around rooms in the dental environment, maneuver in small spaces, work in enclosed spaces, sit and work chairside for extended periods and reach needed equipment

Move around treatment rooms, sterilization room and other clinical areas
Position chairside in proximity to patient
Administer CPR and BLS procedures
Reach and move radiographic equipment, which is approximately 5 to 6 feet off floor
Transfer patients from wheelchairs to dental chairs and back if needed
Use repetitive motions with hands, wrists, neck, shoulders and back using gross and fine motor skills for at least eight hours per day
Wear gloves, mask, protective eyewear and barrier gown for extended periods of time during patient treatment, educational study and labs

Gross and fine motor abilities, including spatial relations, sufficient to provide safe and effective dental care

Move, calibrate and use equipment and supplies
Use ancillary aids chairside – mannequins, small equipment, etc.
Usee sharp hand instruments requiring fine motor skills and manual dexterity
Mix and deliver dental materials chairside in a timely manner
Safely assemble anesthetic syringes and dispose of needles in sharps containers
Use spatial relations chairside with use of indirect vision when required

Tactile ability sufficient for assessment and performance of dental assisting procedures

Perform palpation techniques (pulse, etc.)
Perform functions of a chairside dental assistant, including expanded functions (e.g., cement removal, pit and fissure sealant placement, liner placement, etc.)
Demonstrate ability to put on and remove gloves, gown, masks, protective eyewear and head covering

Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs

Hears patients and sounds of emergencies (coughing, gagging/choking), sound of instruments being properly utilized (e.g., model trimmers, sound of slow speed/high speed hand pieces), sound of radiography unit monitors for exposure and autoclave/sterilization equipment
Hears sounds related to obtaining and monitoring vital signs
Hears dentist dictation while charting existing conditions and treatment to be rendered
Hears and communicates clearly in person and by telephone
Hears conversations well enough to communicate with patients, peers, instructors and other healthcare providers
Listens for awareness of equipment function or malfunction and/or emergency signals

Visual ability sufficient for physical assessment, performance of dental assisting procedures and maintenance of environmental safety

Detect changes in skin color or condition
Observe patient's facial expression
Evaluate radiographs for technical quality, including density, contrast and distortion
Select correct instruments to transfer to dentist during procedures
Identify and select correct rotatory cutting instruments
Read small print to include anesthesia vials, medication labels and dental materials
Chart dental conditions
Read caution signs and safety data sheets
Determine if a material is mixed correctly by viewing the final product

Olfactory ability sufficient for maintaining a safe work environment and patient safety, as well as recognizing oral diseases

Distinguish smells that affect the safety of the work environment (fire/chemicals), safety for the patient (tissue burns) and the smell of oral diseases (abscess/exudate/halitosis/periodontal disease)
Tolerate exposure to various chemical odors

Professional appearance, attitude and demeanor needed for use of intellectual abilities and good judgment in performing the roles of a dental assistant

Present a professional appearance
Maintain own physical and mental health, as well as emotional stability
Maintain a calm and efficient manner within time constraints, medical emergencies and high stress/pressure situations
Exposure to communicable diseases and contaminated body fluids
Demonstrate teamwork and flexibility
Demonstrate empathy
Maintain ethics and sound decision-making
Respect cultural diversity
Maintain focus in an environment with multiple interruptions, noises, distractions and unexpected patient needs
Demonstrate organizational skills