Assessment of the qualification and performance of the assistants working in the private dental clinics in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Background: A qualified dental assistant is expected to have proper knowledge in, various treatment procedures, handling instruments, infection control and health hazards. The present survey has been conducted to assess the qualification and performances of the assistants working in different dental clinics. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among the assistants working in 22 dental clinics in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Results: Only one clinic had a qualified Dental Hygienist and the other assistants working in other clinics were lacking professional degrees. Around 91% were involved in mixing restorative materials, 32% were involved in taking radiographs, 45.5% were not immunized for Hepatitis B and 19.2% of them have no knowledge about transmission of diseases like AIDS. Conclusion: The present study shows almost all the assistants working in private dental clinics were not qualified with professional degrees. The dental surgeons should be much more concerned in recruiting only qualified dental auxiliaries.