Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants What Does It Take To Become One?

Dental assistants should not be confused with a dental hygienist. A hygienist must complete a dental hygienist program at an accredited school. A hygienist must also pass an exam for a state license and to be certified to work as a dental hygienist in that state. Dental assistants position does not require a degree from a dental school or a license to work in a dental clinic in most states. However graduating from an accredited dental school is usually a requirement for the position, based on the dentist's preferences. The on the job training usually consists of individual methodology of the dentist's practice. Even experienced dental assistants will be taught how a dentist operates his clinic.

Dental assistant's duties usually include sterilization of the instruments and preparing the instruments and the patients for the dentist. The assistant works along with the dentist during procedures handing him the instruments and providing assistance with keeping the area suctioned while the dentist is working on a patient. The assistant is usually the one to greet the patient and prep them for the dentist or the dental hygienist. The assistant may provide instructions to the patient regarding follow up care. Office duties may include scheduling or confirming appointments and working with patient records. Lab duties usually include creating impressions, cleaning removable appliances and making temporary crowns. The duties assigned are at the discretion of the dentist and state laws and regulations.

The regulations and licensing of dental assistants vary by state. All states regulate the duties of the dental assistant and what duties they are allowed to perform. Most states require certification for radiological procedures or performing more complex duties in a dental office. Many states require ongoing training to maintain a license or certification. A few states allow dental assistants to perform any duty a dentist assigns to them. Since the laws vary from state to state, it is recommended to contact the state's board for specific restrictions, regulations, certifications and licensing requirements.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment (for dental assistants) is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 projection period."