Dental Assistant
What You Need to Know to Become One

A dental assistant plays a key role in a dental clinic. The work of a dentist assistant is very important because a dentist will find it difficult to work without the help of an assistant. Assistant tasks include various duties in the maintenance of the dental office, in the caring of patients, and in the maintenance of the dental laboratory. Whatever form of assistance is needed by the dentist, the assistants have to provide it. He or she must work closely with the dentist in whatever task or procedure the dentist has to perform for a patient.

Two years ago, there were about 295,300 dentist assistants in employment. Majority of them work in private dental clinics, while some work in federally owned dental locations.

A dentist assistant is different from a dental hygienist. Dental assistants cannot perform procedures, while dental hygienists can perform basic preventive and maintenance procedures. To fully understand the role of a dental assistant, it is important for you to know exactly what an assistant’s responsibilities are.

Here are all the facts you need to know about the dentist assistant job.

Dental Assistant: What They Do and How to Become One

What you should know if you want to be a dental assistant:

• Range of responsibilities
• Studying to be a dental assistant
• Obtaining certification and license

1. Range of responsibilities

The responsibilities of a dental assistant are quite a lot because the assistant job is very flexible and varied. It is the dentist assistant’s responsibility to ensure that cleanliness and order is maintained in the dental clinic. This involves sterilizing, organizing, storing, and disinfecting all instruments and equipments used in the clinic. Aside from that, assistants have to stand by the dentist during procedures, handing equipments and instruments throughout the duration of the procedures. They are also allowed to operate certain equipment such as suction hoses to help improve and ensure the comfort of patients.

Dentist assistants are also responsible for keeping and updating all dental records. They are also tasked to oversee post-operative or general oral care of patients. Although they are not allowed to perform x-rays, they can process x-rays under the direction of a licensed dentist. They are also allowed to perform follow-ups to procedures. For example, they can apply supplemental topical medications to gums or preventive agents on teeth. They can also remove sutures or remaining materials that get left behind following a particular procedure.

Due to all these responsibilities, it is safe to say that dentists will be unable to efficiently perform dental procedures and tasks without the help of an assistant.

2. Studying to be a dental assistant

There is generally no formal requirement that you have to be academically and professionally trained to become a dental assistant. A lot of dentist assistants learn the job through hands on training. Nowadays, however, more and more people are seeking formal training for dentist assistant posts because such training programs are currently being offered in community colleges. These programs are short; they usually last for only a year and already increase chances of obtaining immediate employment as an assistant. Trainings are often followed by on the job programs for practical training.

3. Obtaining certification and license

You can become a dental assistant by just going through a training program or seeking academic training, but there are limits as to the tasks and procedures you can dabble in. There are certain certifications and special licenses that are given to dentist assistants who want to be able to achieve higher standards in their line of work. Some certifications and licenses allow assistants to be able to perform special procedures in the clinic. To obtain licensure, an aspirant must complete a written or a practical exam, or both.

In some cases, however, some dentists already train and allow their assistants to perform advanced procedures. Sometimes, the full extent of responsibilities of an assistant will depend only on the discretion of the dentist he or she is assisting.

Is a Dental Assistant Job Promising?

The dental assistant position has been hailed as one of the fastest growing occupations since 2008. More and more people seem to be needing dental care, and the tasks and responsibilities of dentists are becoming more taxing and demanding. Due to this, the job prospects of dental assistants receive a boost.

Dental assistants also enjoy a flexible schedule and a clean and well-lit work environment, especially if they are working in environments where the doctors take on low cost dental insurance plans for individuals. Assistant jobs can also be used as a secondary income-earner. In fact, a large percentage of assistants are only in the job part-time. All in all, prospects are looking good for dental assistants.

Back from Dental Assistant to Dental Assistant Salary

Back from Dental Assistant to Best Dental Insurance

Privacy Policy

Copyright dentalinsurancecare.com. Protected by Copyscape - do not copy.