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Introduction
The Dental Assistant takes on significant responsibility as a
member of the dental health care team. Assistants greatly
increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of
quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental
care team. If you have strong communication skills, enjoy
working with your hands as well as your mind and want a career
with responsibility, Dental Assisting is for you.
The best way to become a Dental Assistant is to receive formal
education. Studying in a Commission on Dental Accreditation
accredited program provides education that is based on the latest
procedures and techniques.
In some areas of the country, Dental Assistants can begin their
careers without a college degree; however, education is encouraged.
Assistants often have considerable freedom to choose their own
hours. So if a career in health care and 1-2 years of formal
education appeals to you, then Dental Assisting is a career you will
want to explore.
A career as a Dental Assistant offers many challenges. In
addition to assisting the dentist during a variety of procedures,
other specific tasks Dental Assistants may perform include taking
and developing dental radiographs (x-rays), sterilizing instruments
and equipment and taking impressions of patients' teeth.
What Do Dental Assistants Do?
The duties of a Dental Assistant are among the most comprehensive
and varied in the dental office. The Dental Assistant performs
many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills.
Although state regulations vary, some specific tasks Dental
Assistants may perform include:
- assisting the Dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
- taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
- asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood
pressure and pulse
- serving as an infection control officer, developing infection
control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and
equipment
- helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after the
dental treatment
- providing patients with instructions for oral care following
surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the
placement of a restoration (filling)
- teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to
maintain oral health (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and
nutritional counseling)
- taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (model
of teeth)
- performing office management tasks that often require the use
of a personal computer
- communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling
appointments answering the telephone, billing and ordering
supplies)
- assisting with and helping to provide direct patient care in
all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric
dentistry, periodontics and oral surgery
What Are the Advantages of a Dental Assisting Career?
- Variety: Dental Assistants have one of the most diverse
and interesting of all positions in a dental office. Dental
assisting is a challenging and rewarding career, demanding
versatility and a willingness to assume responsibility for many
different tasks.
- Flexibility: Since Dental Assistants are in demand,
career options include both full-time and part-time positions.
- Excellent working conditions: Dental offices are
interesting, pleasant, people-oriented environments in which to
work.
- Personal satisfaction: Dental assisting involves people
contact, and with this personal interaction comes the personal
satisfaction of knowing you've really helped someone by helping to
provide a valuable health service.
Where Do Dental Assistants Work?
Since many Dentists employ two or more Dental Assistants, employment
opportunities in this field are excellent. The types of
practice settings available to Dental Assistants include:
- solo dental practices (practices with only one Dentist)
- group practices (practices with two or more Dentists)
- specialty practices, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery
(removal of teeth and correction of facial deformities),
orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics (straightening teeth with
braces or other appliances), endodontics (root canal treatment),
periodontics (treatment of gum problems), prosthodontics
(replacement of lost teeth) and pediatric dentistry (treatment of
children)
- public health dentistry, including settings such as schools
and clinics which focus on the prevention of dental problems
within entire communities
- hospital dental clinics, assisting Dentists in the treatment
of bedridden patients
- dental school clinics, assisting dental students as they learn
to perform dental procedures
Other career opportunities for Dental Assistants include:
- insurance companies, processing dental insurance claims
- vocational schools, technical institutes, community colleges
dental schools and universities, teaching others to be Dental
Assistants (which may require associate or baccalaureate college
degrees)
- dental product sales representatives
What Education/Training Does a Dental Assistant Need?
It takes a relatively short period of time to become a Dental
Assistant. Dental Assistants receive their formal education
through academic programs at community colleges, vocational schools,
technical institutes, universities or dental schools.
Graduates of these programs usually receive certificates.
Although the majority of academic dental assisting programs take
nine to eleven months to complete, some schools offer accelerated
training, part-time education programs or training via distance
education.
Accreditation
The agency responsible for accrediting dental assisting programs and
deciding whether or not they meet the standards for accreditation is
the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
Association. There are approximately 256 Commission-accredited
dental assisting programs in the United States as of 2001-2002.
Dental Assistants may be the most valuable asset to a dental
practice. In addition to performing technical duties, they
play an important role in helping patients feel comfortable before,
during and after dental treatment.
Certification
Dental Assistants can become certified by passing an examination
that evaluates their knowledge. Most Dental Assistants who
choose to become nationally certified take the Dental Assisting
National Board's (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
examination. Becoming a certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
assures the public that the Dental Assistant is prepared to assist
completely in the provision of dental care.
Dental Assistants are eligible to take the CDA examination if
they have completed a dental assisting program accredited by the
Commission on Dental Accreditation. Individuals who have been
trained on the job or have graduated from non-accredited programs
are eligible to take the national certification examination after
they have completed two years of full-time work experience as Dental
Assistants. Some states also recognize passage of components
of the CDA examination, such as the Radiation Health and Safety
examination, or the Infection Control examination, for licensing and
regulatory purposes.
Some regulations vary, and some states offer registration or
licensure in addition to this national certification program.
What is a Dental Assistant's Earning Potential?
Dental Assistants earn salaries equal to other health care
personnel with similar training and experience such as medical
assistants, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy
assistants, veterinary technicians and pharmacy assistants.
For more information, contact:
American Dental Assistants Association
35 Wacker Drive, Suite 1730
Chicago, IL 60601-2211
312-541-1550
www.dentalassistant.org
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