What is the role of the dental assistant during an extraction procedure?

The role of the dental assistant during an extraction procedure is crucial to the overall success of the operation and the comfort of the patient. Assisting the dentist with instruments involves providing the necessary tools promptly and maintaining a sterile environment. This enables the dentist to focus on the procedure itself without interruption.

Additionally, offering patient support is vital during an extraction. This includes comforting the patient, answering any questions they may have, and ensuring their anxiety is managed. A dental assistant often communicates with the patient to explain what will happen next and to help them feel more at ease throughout the process.

In contrast, while procedures like managing patient billing and scheduling follow-up appointments are essential functions within a dental office, they do not directly relate to the extraction procedure itself. Instead, those tasks are generally handled outside of the clinical setting during or after the procedure has taken place. Thus, the trained assistant's presence during the extraction focuses on aiding the dentist and providing care and reassurance to the patient.