Maybe you are interested in a career in dentistry but don’t have the academic qualifications or desire to study for many years to qualify as a dentist. But you could be a dental assistant instead. This can be a good choice if you want to work in the dental field, enjoy working with people and want a job that has variety each day.
What you actually do will vary from one patient to the next. Basically ou will assist the dentist and hygienist to deliver oral health care in many different scenarios.
If this interests you try contacting your own dentist to see if you could shadow in the surgery to see what the job involves. Some will be happy to help or you may find that your careers adviser will be able to arrange this.
There are two ways to become a qualified Dental Assistant. Firstly you can join a program at a dental school or local college. Alternatively some dental offices choose to train their assistants themselves without any formal external training.
College courses
Most formal Dental Assistant training programs last from 1 – 2 years. Requirements vary from one state to the next and between individual colleges. You will learn the basic fundamentals of dentistry in these programs.
A dental assistant course will cover how to properly use and cleanse the dental instruments and how to protect yourself from communicable diseases. You will also learn how to deal with patients to communicate well and put them at ease.
Make sure the course you choose is accredited under your local regulations. Pick your training program and college wisely as this will help when you are looking for a job.
If you choose to be trained “on the job” in a dental office, then you will have some benefits. You get real world experience of dental procedures and handling patients. Each dentist will have a certain way of working so this personalized training can be helpful.
Do some research at the Better Business Bureau and the State Board of Dentistry to make sure there are no complaints associated with the dentist. You don’t want to train with any dentist office that has received numerous complaints regarding the treatment of patients.
Becoming a Certified Dental Assistant
Most states in the USA will require you to obtain certification within 3 months of completing a program. If you choose to train with a dentist you need to complete 2 years training before you can sit the certification exam.
This exam with require both a written test of your knowledge and a practical demonstration of your skills. The written portion will be based on the fundamentals of dental care and sanitation issues. You need to demonstrate to the examiner that you know how to properly clean and sterilize the instruments. The state examiner will want to watch you perform several tasks to prove your competence.
Dental Assistant training can lead to a career in the dental field with plenty of work opportunities. People will always need dental treatment so it is a job that will not disappear.
If you want to be a dental assistant you need to have good personal skills. You will be the person that patients see before and after their dental work. Many people are nervous about seeing a dentist and you need to be a reassuring and friendly face.
