Dental Assisting

Is Dental Assisting a Good Fit for You?

Want to be a respected part of the dental field? Concerned that a full-time degree is too time consuming? Whether you are just starting out or seeking a career change, dental assisting may be a good choice. You can enter the workforce quickly and affordably through a certificate program, find an associate degree program that fits your schedule, or choose from many dental assisting programs offered online.

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A trip to the dentist is, for many, an anxiety-provoking experience. By presenting a warm, professional demeanor, dental assisting professionals can transform a dreaded appointment into a positive experience. In addition to putting patients at ease, dental assistants obtain patients' dental records, prepare them for treatment and advise them on ways to maintain good oral health.

During procedures, they provide the dentist an extra set of hands, passing instruments and providing suction when needed. Dental assistants also sterilize instruments and equipment. In smaller practices, they may perform general office tasks.

Additional dental assistant job responsibilities may include the following:

• Taking and processing x-rays
• Conducting lab work
• Making casts for restorations
• Preparing temporary crowns
• Placing rubber dams on teeth
• Removing sutures
• Applying topical anesthetics and cavity-preventive agents
• Removing excess cement from filling procedures

Dental Assisting Workplace

Most dental assistants work in private dental offices. A smaller number hold government jobs or work in hospitals, schools or clinics. The office environment is clean and calm, designed to soothe patients' anxieties. Dental assisting professionals spend most work time near the dental chair, where they must wear protective gear to prevent infection and reduce risks from x-rays.

Approximately half work a 35- to 40-hour week, which may include some evenings or Saturdays. Some work in offices open only three to four days per week or hold part-time positions.

Dental Assisting Education and Training

Although many dental assistants learn on the job, more employers seek graduates of dental assistant training programs offered by technical institutes or community colleges. Programs typically include classroom and laboratory instruction as well as practical experience gained through internships. A high school degree or GED is required for admission, and some programs have science or computer prerequisites.

Most technical programs take one year or less to complete and culminate in a certificate or diploma. Two-year dental assisting programs offered by community colleges lead to an associate degree. While some schools offer accelerated four- to six-month programs, these are not accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Dental Assisting Licensing and Certification

Most states regulate duties that dental assistants perform through licensure or registration, which may require passing an examination or taking a state-approved course. A few states permit dental assistants to perform any function delegated by the dentist. Further education and testing is required by some states to perform x-rays. Information on state requirements is available from the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) website, www.danb.org, or from a program counselor.

The DANB offers a certification examination for graduates of an ADA-accredited program or dental assistants who have worked two years full time or four years part time. This dental assisting certification is recognized or required in 30 states.