Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes
- Prepare the dental surgery for oral health care procedures
- Make accessible in the clean zone of the surgery the patient’s necessary charts and records
- Identify correctly the planned procedure
- Anticipate and select correctly the equipment, instruments materials and medicaments for the planned procedure, and arrange them in their likely order of use
- Give personal protective equipment to the patient and members of the dental team
- Support aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of infection
- Use dental terminology in communication within the health care setting
- Communicate with other members of the dental team using dental terminology
- Receive, understand and document written and oral instructions using dental terminology
- Use and correctly interpret frequently used abbreviations and symbols in dentistry
- Refer to the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary for interpreting information used in dental assisting work.
- Record personal, medical and dental details
- Actively encourage patients to provide complete information without embarrassment or hesitation
- Make accurate, legible and legal records of the patient’s personal, medical and dental information as directed by the operator
- Verify this information in accordance with operator requirements
- Maintain confidentiality of patient information
- Select and prepare syringe safely for local anaesthesia
- Select and prepare the correct syringe, cartridge and needle for local anaesthesia as directed by the operator
- Check the expiry dates for the local anaesthetic cartridge prior to use
- Transfer the unused local anaesthetic syringe to the operator in accordance with infection control guidelines for the transfer of sharps between health care workers
- Disassemble syringe, cartridge and dispose of needle and cartridge appropriately
- Assist the operator during oral health care procedures
- Select and transfer to the operator the instruments, the equipment, materials and medicaments required for oral health care procedures
- Assist the operator to maintain a clear field of vision
- Clear the mouth of oral fluids and debris, and control moisture
- Retract and protect the patient’s soft tissues using instruments and materials appropriate to the procedure
- Monitor the patient’s well-being and take the necessary actions without delay to support the patient and the operator
- Prepare the correct materials and medicaments using the correct technique and to the correct consistency and quantity required, and within the designated timelines as directed by the operator
- Select additional instruments and materials as required without contaminating sterile stock
- Dispose of waste materials appropriately during the cleaning and change-over using sustainable practices and organisation protocols
- Maintain and store instruments, equipment materials and medicaments
- Check that instrument sharpness conforms to operator specifications and advise of any deficiency
- Maintain instruments and equipment in good working order
- Store instruments, equipment, materials and medicaments correctly, according to manufacturers’ instructions
- Monitor storage requirements, shelf life and expiry dates of materials and medicaments
- Report faults in equipment or instruments promptly to the operator
- Ensure tracking and maintenance records are legible and accurate
- Arrange for servicing of instruments and equipment in line with manufacturers’ instructions