Dental Assistant JobsDental assistants work under dentists and their range of responsibilities cover chair side, laboratory and office procedures. They help dentists while examining patients. They obtain patients dental history and prepare them for treatment by making them feel comfortable. Assistants also maintain laboratory equipment by sterilization and disinfections. For dental procedures, they prepare trays of instruments, hand in instruments and materials to dentists and instruct patients on postoperative recovery.
Other dental assistant jobs include preparing materials for impressions and restorations, taking x-rays and processing x-ray films under advice from the dentist. From the teeth and mouth impressions they could make casts. They acquire expertise in removing sutures, applying topical anesthetics to gums, removing excess cement from filling and isolating teeth for treatment by placing rubber dams. They also clean and polish appliances and make temporary crowns.
Dental assistants also have office duties such as scheduling and confirming appointments, tracking patient records, sending bills, receiving payments and ordering dental supplies.
Most dental assistants learn on the job although there are one-year and two-year courses available. Many aspirants view dental assistant jobs as a stepping-stone to higher paying ones. Hence, they pursue further education and complete certification and licensure requirements that mostly depend on state legislation. Almost 30 states in the US have accredited dental assistant training and certification examination requirements. There are also national certification bodies.
The work environment in dental assistant jobs is clean and efficient. They must act in a methodical fashion and always follow adequate safety standards for handling instruments, materials and clothing.
The outlook for dental assistant jobs is encouraging. In fact, in the coming decade this segment could see the fastest growth rate in terms of demand. While most jobs are with dental offices, some opportunities are open in Federal, state and local governments. The earnings potential lies between $9 an hour going up to $16 or even $19. The benefits package varies with completing educational requirements and individual practice setting. Most full-time assistants receive paid vacation time and part-time assistants receive dental coverage.
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