This text defines the skills expected of dental assistants and details the steps essential to each skill. Each chapter focuses on the acquisition of specific skills, with an overview that includes foundation knowledge and competencies lists, as well as a procedures section explaining the competencies step-by-step. This edition includes three new chapters addressing the changing responsibilities of the dental assistant, and another chapter covering the how-to's of coronal polishing. At the end of each chapter there are 20 multiple-choice questions to help readers review and test their foundation knowledge, while competency evaluation forms enable them to check their mastery of the skills. In addition, over 35 detachable study cards list the instruments needed for the most commomly performed dental procedures.