Dental assistant jobs offer stable job security, rewarding incentives and multiple tasks that will never make your daily routine monotonous. You will be working hand in hand with the dentist in making sure that the dental company you are working for provide quality and competitive dental oral and health care services.
Dental assistant jobs are considered to be one of the most highly in-demand jobs nowadays. With the rise in population, more people are becoming aware of oral and dental health care. Aside from that, a large number of dental assistants will also be retiring from the workforce. These two major factors will eventually rattle the dental and oral care industry, hence the call for individuals interested to take dental assistant jobs increase in large numbers every year. In a 2009 labor survey, it is estimated that an overwhelming growth of 36% will occur in the dental industry’s demand for dental assistants.
Dental Assistant Job Duties
So what do dental assistant jobs entail? First of all, there are two classifications for positions that concern dental assistant jobs- the basic assistant and the Expanded Duty Dental Assistant. Dental assistant jobs for basic assistants mainly compose of the general tasks that dental assistants perform. Their primary duty is to ensure the preparation of the patients, as well as the tools, materials, and equipments needed in the dental procedure. During the procedure basic assistants will completely assist the dentist, hand the essential dental instruments, and make sure that the patient’s position is comfortable and accessible to the dentist. Basic dental assistants also need to perform administrative work such as keeping patient’s records, scheduling appointments, sending out bills, and receiving payments. Entry-level dental assistant jobs will only require the completion of a short-term (1-year) dental assistant course for the basic assistant position.
The obligations of Expanded Duty Dental Assistant are more complicated hence this position requires skilled training and a higher level of education. Aside from the general tasks of dental assistant jobs, the duties of the EDDA will also include restorative tasks, such as making impressions. EDDAs can also process dental x-rays, remove sutures, and apply temporary restorations, according to the dentist’s instructions and under the dentist’s careful supervision.
The kind of training required from dental assistant jobs might also vary from every State, and the position that you are applying for. In some States, qualifications for dental assistant jobs are simpler, and they only require you to finish a dental assistant training program. After that you can already start working in a dentist’s office and acquire on-the-job training while at it. In other States, and more states are adopting this qualification system, individuals who are interested to apply for dental assistant jobs must not only graduate from dental assistant training, they should also acquire professional license by taking a certifying examination conducted by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Additionally, the license might require the dental assistant to partake in additional training and continue their education in order to renew their licenses. Regardless whether your state requires the simpler or the more demanding type of qualification requirements, it is important to note that you should obtain your education in a CDA-approved institution to avoid complications later on.
Once you are qualified to work as a dental assistant, you can now opt to work in a small dentist’s office under one dentist, or apply in a medical institution where you will be working for a group of dentists, or for dental specialists. Other good career paths for dental assistants also include teaching, getting into the sales industry, or venture into research. The choices are actually endless for dental assistant jobs, and the career itself is challenging and rewarding. All it takes for individuals who aspire to succeed in their dental assistant jobs is to develop enthusiasm in performing different obligations, assume versatility and flexibility with the tasks involved, and maintain their willingness to learn new things involved in the field.