perform, respective to that country. australia australian flag - animated. according to the australian government, department of health, in 2006 there were 15,381 registered dental assistants supporting dental operators. of those, 171 were indigenous. in australia dental assistants should have the following skills: have excellent communication skills enjoy interacting with other people be organised and an efficient manager of their time be meticulous and pays great attention to detail possess good manual dexterity enjoy responsibility have the ability to comprehend and follow instructions be skilled at multitasking dental assistants work as part of a wider dental team, primarily with dentists, but also with dental specialists, oral health therapists, dental therapists, dental technitions, dental hygienists and dental prosthetists. tasks include: receiving and preparing patients dental practitioner and dental assistant working in conjunction with one another.arranging and handing instruments, medication, and other dental requisites to dental practitioners preparing dental materials and processing x-rays using suction devices and water sprays performing routine maintenance on equipment sterilising and preventing cross infection of equipment may advise patients on dental health education and post-operative care and procedures may act as receptionist for dental practitioners may perform billing and other clerical tasks education and licensing no formal education is required (trainership) formal education and training (certificate iii and certificate iv in dental assisting) school based traineeship for years 11 and 12 students victoria education provider qualification course type course length (months) type bendigo tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time bendigo tafe certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12-18 full time bendigo tafe certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 18-24 part time box hill institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 full time chisholm tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 9 part time 1day/week chisholm tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 5 part time 2day/week gotafe goulburn ovens institute of tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 643 hours flexible rmit university certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time rmit university certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time rmit university certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time 2-3day/month partners in training (private) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time partners in training (private) certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time menzies institute of technology (private) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 6 (for those with more than 12 months work experience fulltime menzies institute of technology (private) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 (for those with less than 12 months work experience traineeship menzies institute of technology (private) certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 6 full time new south wales education provider qualification course type course length (months) type north coast tafe institute certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time north coast tafe institute certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time hunter institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time hunter institute tafe certificate iv dental assisting (radiography) certificate iv 12 part time hunter institute tafe certificate iv dental assisting (oral health promotion) certificate iv 12 part time illawarra institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12-24 part time illawarra institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship sydney institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12-24 part time sydney institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship western sydney institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12-24 part time western sydney institute tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship open training & education network tafe nsw certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship open training & education network tafe nsw certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12-24 part time open training & education network tafe nsw certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 traineeship open training & education network tafe nsw certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12-24 part time dental assistants professional association certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time dental assistants professional association certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship tred college certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 6 full time queensland education provider qualification course type course length (months) type queensland tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time queensland tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship ada queensland certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time ada queensland certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 full time health academy australia (queensland) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time northern territory education provider qualification course type course length (months) type department of health (nt) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time department of health (nt) certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship western australia education provider qualification course type course length (months) type dna kingston training certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time dna kingston training certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time north metropolitan tafe certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 full time south regional tafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 6 full time south regional tafe certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 6 full time west australian institute of further studies certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time west australian institute of further studies certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time south australia education provider qualification course type course length (months) type tafe sa certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 6 full time tafe sa certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 part time tafe sa certificate iv dental assisting certificate iv 12 part time tasmania education provider qualification course type course length (months) type tastafe certificate iii dental assisting certificate iii 12 traineeship australian dental assistants perform limited and restricted duties and are not permitted to perform any of the following: any irreversible procedure on the human teeth or jaw or associated structures correcting malpositions of the human teeth or jaw or associated structures; fitting or intra-orally adjusting artificial teeth or corrective or restorative dental appliances for a person performing any irreversible procedure on, or the giving of any treatment or advice to, a person that is preparatory to or for the purpose of fitting, inserting, adjusting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing artificial dentures or a restorative dental appliance dental assisting is not a registered profession in australia and as such training courses are not mandatory, although those with nationally recognised qualifications will enjoy the benefits of higher wages and better employment opportunities. there is no formal training required of entry level dental assistants in order to commence or undertake work in private practice in australia. most dental assistants gain practical experience at a place of employment although there are vocational qualifications which are nationally recognised and highly recommended for increasing a person's job prospects, remuneration, and professional development. the national vocational qualification hlt35015 certificate iii in dental assisting is the entry level of vocational training for dental assisting while hlt45015 certificate iv in dental assisting are suitable for those who seek to further their skills and duties and elect units from particular streams such as dental radiography, oral health promotion, practice administration, general anaesthesia and conscious sedation. these formal qualifications can be offered only by registered training organisations such as tafe and professional associations while certificate iii in dental assisting may also be offered as a traineeship in most states of australia and as a school-based traineeship for years 11 and 12 in some states. currently dental assistants are not required to be registered under the dental board of australia or with any state and territory boards since dental assisting is not a registered profession. dental assistants who have attained a certificate iv in dental assisting – dental radiography and are required to operate dental radiography apparatus as part of their job role, must hold a current license with the relevant state or territory radiation authority. dental assistants are strongly encouraged to have current vaccinations for hepatitis b, and tetanus along with the normal childhood vaccination recommendations (measles, mumps, varicella, polio) and influenza. many state and territory public health care facilities and training providers will require students and workers to present evidence of hepatitis b immunity and the results of a criminal history check prior to commencing clinical placement. most private dental clinics will also require employees to have current vaccination records and may also require workers to undertake annual influenza vaccinations. united states flag of the united states. according to occupational employment statistics, in the usa in 2017 there are a total of 337,160 dental assistants: they all should have the following personal qualities: demonstrate sensitivity to the patient's needs show empathy "say the right thing at the right time" be sincere be a good listener be trust worthy unlike australia, in the usa dental assisting is a registered profession represented by the american dental assistants association (adaa) and members should possess both front desk and chairside skills. routine duties include: ensure that patients are comfortable in the dental chair prepare patients and the work area for treatments and procedures sterilize dental instruments hand instruments to dentists during procedures dry patients’ mouths using suction hoses and other equipment instruct patients in proper oral hygiene process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist keep records of dental treatments schedule patient appointments work with patients on billing and payment extended duties may include: coronal polishing sealant application fluoride application topical anesthetic application education and licensing in some u.s. states, dental assistants can work in the field without a college degree, while in other states, dental assistants must be licensed or registered. dental assistants can receive formal education through academic programs at community colleges, vocational schools, career colleges, technical institutes, universities and dental schools with most programs needing only 8 to 11 months to complete. the commission on dental accreditation of the american dental association accredits dental assisting school programs, of which there are over 200 in the united states. to become a certified dental assistant, or cda, dental assistants must take the danb (dental assisting national board) cda examination after they have completed an accredited dental assisting program, while those who have been trained on the job or have graduated from non-accredited programs are eligible to take the national certification examination after they have completed two years of full-time work experience as dental assistants. some dentists are willing to pay a dental assistant-in-training that has a good attitude and work ethic. in the usa the dental assisting national board offers three nationally recognised certifications, namely: certified dental assistant (cda) certified orthodontic assistant (coa) certified preventative functions dental assistant (cpfda) expanded duties dental assistants or expanded functions dental assistants, as they are known in some states, may work one on one with the patient performing restorations after the doctor has removed decay ideally, a dental assistant should have both administrative and clinical skills although it's still acceptable to have one or the other. duties may also include seating and preparing the patient, charting, mixing dental materials, providing patient education and post-operative instructions. they also keep track with inventory control and ordering supplies. united kingdom flag of the united kingdom (3-5). in the uk, registered dental nurses are prohibited from carrying out any form of direct dental treatment on the patient, including teeth whitening procedures, under the gdc scope of practice. dental nurses found to be carrying out dental procedures are liable to be removed from the statutory gdc register. duties include: taking responsibility for the decontamination of instruments maintaining dental operating equipment ensuring that all relevant materials and supplies are in place looking after patient records – including making notes when the dentist is examining a patient working closely with the dentist, responding quickly to requests and generally keeping the surgery ready for use those with additional training or skills developed during their careers can undertake expanded duties that may include: providing oral health education and health promotion assisting in the treatment of patients under conscious sedation assisting in the treatment of patients with special needs intra-oral photography shade taking placing rubber dam measuring and recording plaque indices pouring, casting and trimming study models removing sutures after the wound has been checked by a clinician apply fluoride varnish as part of programme that is overseen by