A Career as a Dental Assistant

If you are considering a career as a dental assistant, this information will surely help you out. From what exactly a dental assistant does to what kind of education you Will need, how long it will take, who is right for a career in this field and what kind of jobs and salaries are available. Everything you need to know to help you decide is here.

Let's start with what a dental assistant is. Dental assistants and hygienists, although in the same field, are very different professions. They both assist dentists in a variety of clinical, office management and examination related tasks. Demand for dental assistants and hygienists is expected to grow in the next 10 years as older dentists leave the field, and new graduates, (who are likely to hire multiple assistants) begin their own practices. Dentists hire assistants to help with preliminary tasks so that they can see more patients and spend more time learning about new developments, research and techniques in the field of dentistry. While dental assistants check patients in, prepare them for treatment, sanitize tools, and sometimes x-ray, dental hygienists perform teeth cleaning, x-rays, and assist in dental procedures. Dental assistants also aide the dentist while he/she works on their patients.

Now on to education for this field and how long it will take. Some dental assistants might be able to learn applicable skills on the job. However, most dental assistants receive their training from career colleges, which take less than a year to complete. Many community and junior colleges offer two year associate programs in dental assisting as well. During education , students will learn how to take x-rays, dental anatomy and physiology, how to prepare the patient for examination, and how to sterilize equipment. Dental hygienists sometimes have to earn an associates or bachelor's degree and also complete a state board exam. In training, they learn how to clean teeth, screen patients, teach good oral hygiene and counsel patients.