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Career Training>
Allied Health
Careers> Dental Assistant Jobs, Employment, Training Schools
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Dental Assistant Career
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Health Care Jobs.
What a Dental Assistant does:
A Dental Assistant performs patient care duties
under the supervision of a dentist. Dental
Assistants can also perform administrative and
some laboratory tasks.
The main duties of a
Dental Assistant include:
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Sending bills and keeping track of payments
received
- Sterilizing and disinfecting dental equipment
- Preparing the dental surgery for each patient
- Obtaining a patients dental records
- Preparing patients for treatment
- Assisting the dentist during the procedure
e.g. using the suction device, passing
instruments to the dentist and keeping the
patient comfortable
- Educating patients on oral health care
- Performing laboratory duties i.e. making
temporary crowns and impressions of teeth
Education & Qualifications:
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
within the American Dental Association (ADA) is
the accreditation body for Dental Assistant
Programs. Programs cover subjects such as dental
assisting skills and theory, preclinical
instruction and also consist of supervised
clinical practice.
Most Programs are 1 year in duration, where
successful students graduate with a certificate
or diploma. Some Community and Junior Colleges
offer 2 year programs where students will
graduate with an associate degree. Having a high
school diploma is the minimum requirement for
enrolling in a Dental Assistant program.
Salary & Job Prospects:
On average Dental Assistants earn between
$20,000 and $45,000 per year. Employment in this
area is expected to increase faster than
average. Some entry level positions offer on the
job training but job prospects are better for
those with formal training.
Find an Allied Health School:
Use the red search box above, to find Allied
Health schools and colleges in your area that
offer Dental Assistant programs.
Below is a list of some of the various types of
allied health careers / professions: |
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