Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant Facts

Interest in work as a dental assistant has grown in the past few decades. There are several reasons for this increased curiosity. People have grown increasingly concerned about their oral health as they have learned about its importance in regard to their overall health and the health of their heart. Also, the explosion of jobs in the health care field has also caused many job seekers to consider the possibilities in dental assistance.

Many people are interested in working in dentistry because they want to be part of something important. As knowledge of the high value of dental health has spread, people have come to realize that dental work concerns much more than just making your teeth bright or filling cavities. As a consequence, people look on dental work and on the role of a dental assistant as something very important.

Furthermore, everyone is aware of the accelerating job growth in the health care field. In an economy in which jobs have become harder to find, employment needs in all areas of health care have risen so fast that many jobs go unfilled. Becoming a dental assistant seems attractive compared to many of the other health care jobs available because of the minimal amount of education necessary to start work and the potentially high salary that may be acquired after on the job training.

Dental Assistant Education and Training

The amount of education that you need to work in dental assistance varies. People seeking this job should not confuse the role of a dental assistant with that of a dental hygienist. The latter has much more education and training. Dental assistance is essentially an entry level job in the field of dentistry.

In some states, dentists are not required to employ dental assistants with any specific training or education. However, this is changing and many states have specific requirements for the certification and licensure of dental assistants. Consequently, there are now several hundred dental assistant schools and programs open around North America and in the United Kingdom.

In many dental offices, it is possible to get a job as a dental assistant without any special knowledge beyond that acquired with a high school diploma. After employment, employers supply on-the-job training for their assistants and teach them the exact roles that they want them to play in the office. However, most dentists look to see if a job candidate has completed training in a dental assistant program and acquired certification or they send a competent candidate to school after initially employing them. Since dental assistance programs can cost a few thousand dollars, candidates are lucky if their employer offers to pay for the training.

The training and education provided in various states and programs varies widely. Some offices will train on the job during a 10-12 week course. Other dental assistant programs may teach a variety of courses over a period of six to 12 months. In many dental offices, an employee can expect to have the opportunity to work part time or full time while simultaneously taking these courses. Acquiring certification typically result s in higher pay.

To enter into one of these schools, it will be necessary to have a high school diploma. This is due to the post-secondary nature of the training and education that trainees receive. After completing training, most employers and states now require a dental assistant to pass the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) in order to qualify as a Certified Dental Assistant.

Dental Assistant Job Description

A dental assistant does not perform procedures on dental patients. That is the role for a dental hygienist, who can perform teeth cleanings and certain other procedures with only minimal supervision from a licensed dentist. A dental assistant is employed to help with the various tasks that need to be done in order to prepare an office for dental procedures, clean equipment, and help dentists and dental hygienists record information.

A dental assistant may be tasked with guiding patients into the correct office, helping them don protective gear for X-rays and typing in analyses of dental conditions as reported by hygienists or dentists. Assistants also hold devices, take impressions and are even tasked with manufacturing dental crowns. Dental assistants also learn how to expose dental radiographs.

In some areas, dental assistants are known to perform teeth whitening procedures. However, this is somewhat controversial. In the United Kingdom, dental assistants are prohibited from performing any dental procedures.

Dental Assistant Salary

Considering the minimal amount of education required, a dental assistant can earn a very good salary. The average dental assistant salary is around $22,000 but the average overall dental assistant salary is $34,000. With experience on the job and certification, these health care professionals can receive healthy raises over a short period of time.

In the UK dental nurse jobs are also in high demand. The pay for typical dental nurse jobs are in the region of £15,000 for junior positions to £25,000 for a more senior position. There is also alot of demand for dental nurse jobs in the UK.

How to Become a Dental Assistant

If these facts lead you to consider the possibility of becoming a dental assistant, then follow these steps in order to discern your interest in dental assistance more deeply.

• If you are still in high school, make sure that you take as many courses in health and biology as you can, even if they are not required classes. These will not necessarily help you specifically with the tasks assigned to a dental assistant but they may prepare you for more advanced courses in those areas that are taught in a dental assistant program. If you did not finish high school, you should get your GED before inquiring any further about a job.

• Find the closest dental assistant programs in your area. There may be more than one. In that case, tour the campuses and review the class schedules and tuition prices to find the one that is most suitable for someone in your situation.

• Review openings in the dental assistant position in your area. It may be possible to get a job and coordinate working as a dental assistant while you receive training. If not, you will at least want to know what kind of options you might have upon graduation.

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