ISCO 08 Code 3251      Dental assistants and therapists  

Lead Statement

Dental assistants and therapists provide basic dental care services for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth, as per care plans and procedures established by a dentist or other oral health professional.

Task statement

Tasks include:

• advising communities and individuals on dental hygiene, diet  and other preventive measures to reduce potential risks to oral health;
• conducting visual and physical examinations of patients' mouths, teeth and related structures to assess oral health status;
• identifying cases of patients with poor oral health or oral disease requiring referral to a dentist or other health professional
• assisting dentists during complex dental procedures providing fluoride treatments, cleaning and removing deposits from teeth, preparing cavities and placing fillings, administering local anaesthesia, and performing other types of basic or routine clinical dental procedures;
• preparing, cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments, equipment and materials used in the examination and treatment of patients;
• getting patients ready for examination or treatment including explaining procedures and correct positioning;
• taking impressions of the mouth and dental radiographs to support diagnosis and fitting of dental prosthetics.

Included occupations

Examples of the occupations classified here:

• Dental assistant,
• Dental hygienist
• Dental therapist

Excluded occupations

Some related occupations classified elsewhere:

• Dentist - 2261
• Dental mechanic- 3214
• Dental prosthetist - 3214
• Dental technician – 3214
• Dental aid - 5329

Comments

ISCO 88 Code(s) 3225

(NCvB; Maart 2010)