Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant Job Description Is A Challenging Yet Rewarding Career

The dental assistant is a vital link to the dentist and the operations of the office or clinic. In most states the dental assistant must take classes and pass a state certification test. A person can attend classes for one year and earn a dental assisting certificate or can attend a community college and earn an associate degree in as little as two years. The dental assistant can make good money and remain in demand by dentists and clinics. The qualifications to get into a dental assisting program are not difficult and you can usually take the courses you need to qualify at a community college or even online.

The dental assistant job description will vary from state to state and even from office to office. Many times along with hands on skills a dental assistant will also have responsibilities in the office. You may have to schedule appointments, do billing, insurance billing, answer phone call, and take care of routine correspondence. Your skills will also be used in the office with actual patients as well. Many dental assistants will have to expose dental diagnostic x-rays, take medical and dental histories, pour, trim, and polish study casts, and instruct patients in good oral hygiene techniques.

Part of the dental assistant job description includes cleaning and sterilizing instruments, mixing compounds, helping to prep the patient, and ordering supplies. Many dental assistants become the manager of the office with their wide range of experience in the dental office. They are an ideal person for this type of job because they know the routine and the procedures of what takes place in the total office environment. With more duties and responsibilities the pay check for your services will grow larger with time and experience.

The dental assistant should have a good background in accounting and writing skills. Attention must be paid to accuracy and accounting procedures in the office or clinic. You must also be good with personal interactions with patients. It is helpful to have some knowledge of how to handle children in the dental office as well. You must enjoy the interaction of patient and doctor to be a successful dental assistant. Good clerical skills are a must and knowledge of how to use a computer is essential in the modern office setting. The dental assistant faces many challenges as a health care professional but it is a rewarding career knowing that you are helping people with better dental hygiene.