Dental assistant jobs
Fill your career cavity with a job that will make you smile bright.
Nature of the work
- Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties, and often work chairside as dentists examine and treat patients.
- They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain their dental records.
- Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients’ mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices.
- Assistants also sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare trays of instruments for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care.
- Some dental assistants prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist.
- Dental assistants with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials.
- Dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform different clinical tasks.
Working conditions
- Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment.
- Their work area usually is near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed.
- Dental assistants must wear gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.
- Following safety procedures also minimizes the risks associated with the use of x-ray machines.
- About half of dental assistants have a 35- to 40-hour workweek, which may include work on Saturdays or evenings.
Training, qualifications and advancement
- Most assistants learn their skills on the job, although an increasing number are trained in dental-assisting programs.
- Assistants must be a second pair of hands for a dentist; therefore, dentists look for people who are reliable, can work well with others, and have good manual dexterity.
- Most States regulate the duties that dental assistants are allowed to perform through licensure or registration. Licensure or registration may require passing a written or practical examination.
- Certification is available through the Dental Assisting National Board and is recognized or required in more than 30 States.
- In addition, applicants must have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Without further education, advancement opportunities are limited. Some dental assistants become office managers, dental-assisting instructors, or dental product sales representatives. Others go back to school to become dental hygienists. For many, this entry-level occupation provides basic training and experience and serves as a steppingstone to more highly skilled and higher paying jobs.
Earnings
According to the American Dental Association, almost all full-time dental assistants employed by private practitioners received paid vacation time. The ADA also found that 9 out of 10 full-time and part-time dental assistants received dental coverage.
Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment.
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