Dental assistants are a vital part of any dental practice. Most dental assistants work full time, but there are many who work part time. You will be working with your hands, your mind, as well as sharpening your people skills. You will be taxing X-rays, assisting the dentist, and keeping records, among other duties. If you’re looking for a career instead of just a job, then read on. Dental assisting may be right for you!
What Does A Dental Assistant Do?
These are the typical duties of a dental assistant:
- Making sure your patients feel at ease. A lot of people of still scared/anxious about their visit to the dentist and need a little bit of help relaxing. You will of course find your own ways to make a client feel comfortable but a few examples are: small talk, joking around, making sure the chair is comfortable, etc.
- Take the patient’s medical history, ask them a few questions about it, if anything has changed since their last visit, etc.
- Prep the dental tray, sterilize instruments, and prepare the patient to be seen by the dentist.
- Take X-rays of the patient’s mouth.
- Make dental impressions of the patient’s mouth for possible dental appliances.
- Work alongside dentists. Convey the information to them, communicate and pass instruments to the dentist during procedures.
- Teach patients oral hygiene so they may maintain their oral health, i.e., toothbrushing, flossing, proper nutrition.
- Giving patients instructions for oral health and care following a procedure.
- Making appointments, taking payments, ordering supplies, and other office duties.
Fun fact: 61 percent of people are attracted to others by their smile! (Credit: Pinterest)
Desirable Qualities In Dental Assistants
You can’t drop dental instruments every day, or pin the apron in a patient’s hair instead of his/her neck without the dentist wondering if he hired someone from Friends. If you have these qualities, you’ll make a great dental assistant:
- Dexterity. If you can cook with one hand, hold the baby in the other, answer the phone somehow and swing doors shut with your feet, then you can definitely be a dental assistant. You are working with a lot of different tools in a very small space!
- Detail attentive. You’ll have rules and procedures regarding hygiene and infection as well as the dental office rules to follow. You have to make sure to examine your clients well and pay attention to small details to communicate them to the dentist.
- People skills. No one is confident walking into a dentist office. They’re all on edge and/or frightened. You’re worth your weight in gold if you can put them at ease and listen to their worries and just be there for them.
Fun fact: Toothbrush bristles were originally made from cow hair! (Credit: Pinterest)
Benefits Of Being A Dental Assistant
A dental assistant gets some perks along with the paycheck:
- The personal satisfaction of knowing you helped someone be comfortable with his/her dental procedure
- Great working conditions will be found in interesting, fast-paced, pleasant offices
- A career that keeps you on the hop, learning every day, and using all the skills you have
Fun fact: The first toothbrush was invented in 1498 (Credit: Pinterest)
Dental Assistant Opportunities
Dental assistants have a variety of positions they can take such as:
- Solo, group, and specialty dental practices
- Schools and community centers requiring dental assistance
- Emergency wards, dental school clinics, and rehab or senior home facilities
Educational Requirements
Most states request their dental assistant students attend a community college, vocational, or technical school. At that time, you will receive a certificate or diploma. Studies include class time as well as lab time. You’ll be learning about the teeth, jaw, gums, and any facial problem encounters.
If that all sounds interesting to you and you think it could be the right fit for your personality then do not wait any longer! Get connected with an education advisor today and a schedule that works for your lifestyle! For free training information click here.
Sources:
https://collegegrad.com/careers/dental-assistants
https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/dental-team-careers/dental-assistant
https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/4-amazing-facts-about-mouth-inspire-your-dental-assisting-career