▁surfaces ▁during ▁the ▁change over ▁between ▁patients . ▁They ▁must ▁also ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁distinguish ▁between ▁clean ▁and ▁dirty ▁zones ▁as ▁this ▁minim ises ▁the ▁spread ▁of ▁inf ect ious ▁dise ases ▁between ▁co - work ers ▁and ▁patients . ▁Additionally , ▁pl astic ▁bar riers ▁are ▁placed ▁on : ▁instruments ▁such ▁as ; ▁hand ▁pieces ▁connected ▁to ▁the ▁chair , ▁overhead ▁lights , ▁am alg am ators , ▁x - ray ▁machines , ▁mixing ▁materials ▁and ▁other ▁mis cell aneous ▁dent al ▁instruments , ▁materials ▁or ▁app li ances . ▁One ▁of ▁the ▁roles ▁that ▁the ▁dent al ▁assistant ▁particip ates ▁in ▁is ▁changing ▁these ▁pl astic ▁bar riers ▁after ▁each ▁patient ▁has ▁left ▁that ▁surg ery . ▁This ▁ens ures ▁that ▁the ▁surg ery ▁is ▁set ▁up ▁ready ▁for ▁the ▁next ▁patient . ▁▁ ▁These ▁in fection ▁control ▁procedures ▁and ▁protocol s ▁not ▁only ▁apply ▁to ▁the ▁dent al ▁assistant , ▁but ▁to ▁all ▁co - work ers ▁in ▁the ▁or al ▁health ▁care ▁setting . ▁However , ▁the ▁dent al ▁assistant ▁is ▁the ▁major ▁connection ▁between ▁the ▁patient ▁and ▁the ▁or al ▁health ▁care ▁clin ician . ▁Therefore , ▁it ▁is ▁imper ative ▁that ▁they ▁follow ▁these ▁gu idel ines ▁to ▁minim ise ▁the ▁risk ▁of ▁spread ing ▁possible ▁inf ect ious ▁dise ases ▁to ▁co - work ers , ▁patients ▁and ▁themselves . ▁ ▁Ster il isation , ▁dis in fect ant ▁and ▁ant ise ptic ▁ ▁D ental ▁assist ants ▁play ▁a ▁large ▁role ▁in ▁ens uring ▁that