Dental Assistant

If you are interested in joining the healthcare industry and looking for a field that offers good career growth and job stability in the age of AI, consider becoming a dental assistant. Two reasons that make this career option lucrative are that the demand for dental assistants is growing, and you do not need a college degree, which makes it easier to start your career.

Dental assistants help dentists with various administrative and clinical tasks. They ensure that the patient’s treatment goes smoothly and that the dentists perform at their best. Their work starts right when the patient enters the dentist’s office, continues throughout the procedures, and follows up when the procedure is done.

This dental assistant career guide will explore what they do exactly, the requirements and steps to becoming one, the average salaries, and the career outlook.

Medical assistants help dentists with the procedure from the start to the end.

They help schedule appointments on the phone and organize the dentists’ schedules for the day. They ensure the patients are comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them with the x-rays or any prior history so it is easier to check and start the procedure.

Before starting the procedure, they sterilize and organize all the dental equipment so that it is easier to retrieve.

During a procedure, they hold the suction, hand the dentist the required equipment, and do X-rays if required.

After the procedure, they guide the patient regarding aftercare, schedule their next appointment if needed, process the bills, and maintain the record on the computer.

A specialized dental assistant helps more with clinical procedures, such as fitting a crown or taking a wax pattern.

Most dental assistants work at the dentist’s office or a hospital. A very small percentage of them work in other settings, such as dental manufacturing companies or educational institutions.

Fast-paced Environment

Assisting dentists in a dental office requires you to move fast in a tight schedule. The appointments are fixed, and the time is limited for everyone, so you must ensure the necessary preparations are made before the patient sits on the dental chair.

Requires Teamwork

Dental assistants coordinate with patients, dentists, lab technicians, receptionists, and administrative assistants to ensure satisfactory treatment. They must also be prepared for emergency patients.

Dental tech is advancing, and new technologies and methodologies are evolving, so learning new things will be an exciting part of your job.

Risks of Infections

While assisting dentists at the chair, they are at risk of multiple infections, so they must wear masks, gloves, and other protective clothing. They also need to be careful when using radioactive equipment.

Most Dental assistants work full-time, usually less than 40 hours per week. The schedule is predefined and may include working evening or weekend shifts if the facility is open for long hours.

Requirements

In some states, becoming a dental assistant does not require completing a formal training program, making it easy to kick-start your career. You can start an entry-level job and get on-the-job training with a high school diploma or GED.

However, some states require completing an accredited training program that takes a year or two. This program exposes you to all the terminologies and skills to help you on the job. Also, it looks good on your resume, and employers prefer you over other candidates. That is why most dental assistants go for this route.

Training Options

Both online and on-campus training programs are available.

Some notable offline training programs are offered at San Antonio College, State University of New York (SUNY), College of Alameda, and Indiana University.

Notable institutions that offer popular online programs are Hudson Valley Community College, the University of Houston, Downtown, Rutgers University, and Ozarks Technical Community College.

Externships

Once you complete the training program, you can apply for jobs, volunteer opportunities, and externships. This will give you the…