| If you're considering a new career and you enjoy | | | | education courses to maintain registration. Additional |
| helping people smile, why not check out dental | | | | certification may be needed for radiology (to take |
| assisting? There are few other occupations where | | | | patient X-rays). Check the laws in your state. |
| you can make a bigger difference in a person's life. A | | | | Certification is the official recognition of a dental |
| new healthy smile can help transform a withdrawn | | | | assistant's qualifications and professional competence, |
| wallflower to a shining star, and dental assistants are | | | | and may be an advantage when you're looking for |
| part of the magic. | | | | employment. |
| Dental assistants work under the direction of | | | | While it's possible to get on-the-job training to become |
| professional dentists, and perform a wide variety of | | | | a dental assistant, you will improve your prospects with |
| office, patient care, and laboratory tasks. They are not | | | | experience and/or institutional training. The Commission |
| the same as dental hygienists, who are specially | | | | on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental |
| licensed to perform a range of clinical tasks. | | | | Association (ADA) has approved many quality dental |
| Let's look at some of the typical responsibilities of | | | | assisting programs. These programs are offered by |
| dental assistants. | | | | career colleges and technical training schools in your |
| Office: Greet patients, answer phones, receive | | | | community. Most certificate or diploma programs take |
| payments, schedule and confirm appointments, | | | | one year or less to complete. Associate degree |
| maintain patient treatment records, send bills, and order | | | | programs generally take two years. |
| dental office supplies. | | | | Curriculums often include classroom, laboratory, and |
| Patient care: Dental assistants may be asked to | | | | clinical instruction in both practical skills and theory. |
| prepare patients for treatment, hand instruments and | | | | Programs may offer "externships," which are part-time |
| materials to the dentist, take dental X-rays, process | | | | unpaid jobs in dentist's offices, schools, or clinics, where |
| X-ray film, prepare materials to make impressions and | | | | students can gain practical experience. Getting |
| restorations, and apply topical anesthetics to gums or | | | | real-world experience while attending school can be a |
| cavity-preventive materials to teeth. | | | | valuable learning experience, and it looks good on a |
| Laboratory: Make temporary crowns, create casts | | | | resume, too. |
| of the teeth and gums from impressions, and clean | | | | Here's how to get started. Taking the first step is |
| and polish removable appliances. | | | | easier than you may think. You can get free education |
| Job prospects are excellent! According to the U.S. | | | | information by logging onto a reputable college |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of dental | | | | directory website. Simply enter the search terms that |
| assistants is expected to grow much faster than | | | | are appropriate for you, such as "dental assisting |
| average for all occupations from 2008 to 2018. | | | | degree Florida" or "online dental assisting certificate." |
| Through the current decade until 2018, dental | | | | You'll be presented with the career schools that meet |
| assistants are expected to be among the fastest | | | | your criteria. In minutes you can compare programs, |
| growing occupations That's very good news! | | | | financial aid options, and flexible schedules. Then just |
| Sounds good... but how about qualifications? Many | | | | click on the schools you like in order to get more free |
| states require dental assistants to be licensed or | | | | information directly from the schools. It only takes a |
| registered, and to complete regular continuing | | | | few minutes to get your training started! |