It makes sense to train a clinical assistant incrementally. I use a list of specific skills that can be divided into three levels of increasing sophistication as follows.

Play with this list. Of course, yours will be different. A lot depends on what your state or county will permit assistants to do.

But, no matter what the regulations, this is a useful way to organize training, and it can be adapted to other positions in the office as well.

Level One

Molar classification

Tooth numbering sterilization and tray management

Stocking clinic units

Keeping clinic and lab clean/tidy

Reading treatment records

Recording treatment codes

Seating patient and checking hygiene and damage to appliances

Placing separators

Instructing active patient on hygiene, diet, and cooperation

Instructing starting patient on new appliances

Appliance impressions

Pouring up appliance impressions

Removing archwires

Placing and tying initial archwires

Studying model impressions

Pouring up study model impressions

Bond/band preparation: instruments, separator removal, prophy, video

LEVEL TWO

Facebow transfer

Assisting for pvs impressions

Photographing patient

X-ray procedures

Making appointments on the computer

Forming rectangular archwires

Fitting headgear

Fitting removable appliances

Spotting in tmd splint

Handling/triage of emergency events before doctor sees patient

Fitting bands prior to cementation

LEVEL THREE

Evaluating the case for occlusal status and making notes on treatment table cover

Tying steel ligatures and placing elastic hooks or tiebacks

Repairing retainers

Ordering and processing supplies

Processing photographs and diagnostic records

Standardized treatment protocols (archwire sequence, sequence of treatment events)

Forming a closing arch

Forming a utility arch

Fit lingual arch

 
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