Dental Assistant
If you aim to become a Dental Assistant, then you are choosing a career that you will be really proud of. The profession empowers you with the ability to help others in a clean work environment with good earning opportunities. As a dental assistant you are given significant responsibility of increasing the efficiency of the dentist as a valuable member of the dental health care team.
A good dental assistant requires strong communication skills, have good manual dexterity, and of course formal education. Strong communication skills and an outgoing nature are essential as dental assistants usually form the first impression of the dentist office. If you learn the trade well and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements you surely can have a dynamic career as a dental assistant. With number of short term training and certification program available today, you can consider becoming a dental assistant, if you are planning a career change.
What is the Job of a Dental Assistant?
When you become a dental assistant, assisting the dentist in client relations is your key role. You essentially represent the dental office as you are the first person the clients deal with. The professionalism of a dental assistant is advantageous to employer as well as the patients. You are also responsible for other significant tasks. You are assigned various office and laboratory duties and perform a variety of patient care tasks. You have to make patients as comfortable as possible, obtain their dental records and prepare them for the treatment. Some of the major duties of a dental assistant are to:
- Sterilize and disinfect the instruments and equipments
- Record patients medical history
- Instruct patients appropriate postoperative and oral hygiene strategies like flossing and nutritional counseling
- Prepare trays of instruments for dental procedures
- Take impressions of patients' teeth for study casts
- Perform office management tasks
- Communicating with suppliers
- Provide patient care in various dental specialties like orthodontics, pediatric dentistry and oral surgery
- Take dental radio graphs or the x-rays
What are the Educational Requirements?
It takes relatively short period of time to become a dental assistant. Usually, dental assistants learn their skills on the job and the formal education is imparted through certificate programs at community colleges, technical institutes, universities, dental schools and even in vocational schools. High school students who are interested becoming a dental assistant should opt courses in biology, chemistry, health, and office practices. Majority of academic dental assisting courses can be completed in nine months to one year. There are some schools that offer accelerated training, part-time education programs or training through distance learning programs. Accredited program in a Commission on Dental Accreditation provides education based on the latest procedures and techniques.
Where Can Dental Assistants Work?
Dental assistants work under the supervision of a dentist who is board-certified. They usually work in dental offices, public health clinics, hospital dental clinics, health maintenance organizations, dental schools, nursing homes, insurance companies (claims), government agencies, the armed forces, and dental product sales.
The salary of a dental assistant depends upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographic location of employment. Working in the field of dentistry is rewarding as well as challenging. As a dental assistant, you will work directly with patients, help them improve and understand the importance of oral health. You will also work closely with a dentist to improve the quality of health care services.
Georgia Medical Institute is one of many schools offering Medical Assistant training. Please check with them directly for accurate information.
