The administrative assistant's responsibility is to keep the office running smoothly throughout the day. She is the first person you will come in contact with when scheduling your initial visit, and she is the last person you will see after your appointment. The administrative assistant answers the phone, schedules and confirms appointments, verifies insurance coverage, prepares billing statements and collects co-pays from patients. She is the primary source for billing and insurance questions.

The primary responsibility of the dental assistant is to aid the dentist in the clinical treatment of patients. The assistant prepares the operatories for procedures, seats the patient, takes x-rays as ordered by the dentist, hands the doctor instruments during treatment and cleans the operatories after treatment.

Dental assistants can be trained on-the-job or they can receive accreditation at the state level (Registered Dental Assistant or RDA) or at the national level (Certified Dental Assistant or CDA).

The hygienist is the team member who provides oral prophylaxis or teeth cleaning. She also charts each patient's periodontal health, takes necessary x-rays and applies fluoride treatments. The hygienist assists the dentist in educating patients about oral health.

Hygienists have two years of specialized training and have passed a state written and clinical examination. The hygienists official title is Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) or Licensed Dental Hygienist (LDH).