17³Ô¹Ï

• Interns should not be requested to fill temporary staff shortages. For example, if an assistant has left and the office is in the process of hiring a replacement, it is not appropriate to use an intern as a stopgap.
• Offices experiencing busy periods or requiring support solely for disinfection, instrument processing, or sterilization tasks should not request interns.

• The office environment must be nurturing and patient, with both the dentist and staff actively involved in teaching, explaining, and demonstrating clinical procedures.
• If only the dentist supports having an intern, it is likely the staff will not treat the intern with the respect necessary for a productive learning experience.

• Interns may spend the first one to two days observing. By the third day, they should actively participate in chairside assisting.
• Although sterilization and administrative tasks may be part of the role, at least 80% of the intern’s time should involve chairside assisting.

Interns should have the opportunity to develop skills in:

• Mixing cements and impression materials
• Passing instruments
• Charting
• General restorative and specialty procedures
• Taking X-rays
• Performing as many RDA duties as possible

• When the intern begins chairside assisting, an RDA in the office should oversee and assist them during procedures.
• As the intern’s competence grows, they may assist independently.

• Priority for intern placements is given to dentists and staff who serve on the 17³Ô¹Ï College Dental Programs Advisory Board and those who regularly accept interns from the program.