Dental assistants or dentist assistants play an important role in a dental clinic (office). His duties range from helping patients prepare for treatment, to getting involved in x-ray methods. Interestingly, dental assistantship is a flexible and lucrative profession, especially with a lot of “room” for career advancement, if you end up interested in becoming a dental nurse or a dentist. Learn more about the type of education and training you need to pursue employment opportunities as a dental assistant.
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Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Dental Assistant Profession
Step 1. Learn the role of a dental assistant
After all, a dental assistant has broad and large responsibilities in the office. They deal with patients, manage equipment, and process paperwork. Indeed, whether or not this role is specific may vary, depending on office conditions. But in general, here is an overview of the role and work of a dental assistant:
- Prepare patient for treatment and cleaning (mouth or teeth)
- Assisting the doctor during treatment procedures (using suction equipment to clean the patient's mouth area, etc.)
- Handling and responsible for the process of irradiation (x-ray)
- Calculating blood pressure and pulse
- Sterilizing dental equipment
- Equip and equip patients with instructions and general knowledge about oral health
- Teach patients about brushing and flossing (the method of cleaning teeth with silk floss)
- Handling office management, such as scheduling appointments
Step 2. Know what is expected of a work rule
Since many dentists employ more than one assistant, dental assistantship is a profession in high demand. There are several practice conditions that require the presence of a dental assistant, including:
- Individual and group dental practice
- Specialized practices, such as oral surgery, orthodontics (the placement of braces), and dental facial orthopedics (a type of treatment that focuses on improving the shape and structure of teeth)
- Schools, clinics, and other public health programs
- Hospital dental clinic
- Dental school clinic
Step 3. Know the average salary and other job items
Before you decide to become a dental assistant, it's a good idea to learn more about salary forecasting and job flexibility. While specifications may vary across jobs, the following facts will help you learn more about what you can expect from the dental assistant profession:
- In 2013, the median salary of a dental assistant was $35,640 (approximately IDR 490 million), although the highest paid on record was $48,350 (approximately IDR 660 million).
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (bureau or agency of labor statistics in the United States) revealed, in the time span now to 2022, there will be at least about 74,000 new job openings for dental assistants. This shows, there is a growth rate of 24.5%, which is apparently much higher than the average for other occupations.
- Dental assistant is a full-time paid job, although part-time work is also available.
Part 2 of 3: Eligibility
Step 1. Earn a high school degree or GED (General Educational Development; a type of high school graduation certificate in the United States obtained by taking an exam)
While you may be able to get a job as a dental assistant without a high school degree (or equivalent), it's certainly a better chance if you already have a degree. If you didn't graduate from high school, you can plan to get a GED, before you start applying for jobs.
- To prepare to work as a dental assistant, focus on taking classes, such as biology, chemistry, and anatomy while in high school.
- To improve your interpersonal skills, you may want to volunteer or intern in customer service. However, a dental assistant will be dealing with patients on a daily basis. Some of these experiences will make you a better dental assistant.
Step 2. Review the dental assistant requirements in your country
While some states do not require dental assistants to have various types of training or education beyond high school level, there are still countries that require prospective employees to have certificates from several accredited programs.
- To find general requirements in each country, you can do research online in your home country, as well as the board of dentistry (similar to the board of dentistry). “Click” the link that will take you to information related to the dental assistant profession or even, dental assistant registration.
- In countries that do not require a certificate, your training process may take place during the course of work. In this case, you may become a “registered dental assistant” when your employer puts your name on the dental practice renewal list.
Step 3. Take a certified program, if required in your country
Look for programs that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in your area. Many colleges offer a number of programs
- The majority of programs last for one year. Here, you will participate in both the classroom and work laboratory learning about teeth, gums, dental equipment, and many other aspects of a dental assistant career.
- In countries that do not require a certificate, you can still benefit from completing and participating in a certified program. Furthermore, it will equip you with a competitive advantage in the midst of a large number of job applicants.
Step 4. Pass the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam
To get a certificate, you must pass an exam held at the end of the program. As for taking the exam, you can register with the National Dental Assisting Board. Furthermore, you can meet the following requirements:
- You must graduate from an accredited program
- In countries that do not require you to complete the program, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- You must have the latest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training
Part 3 of 3: Improve Your Career
Step 1. Find a job as a dental assistant
You can find job openings in a variety of dental clinics or offices, group practices, dental universities, and hospitals. An easy way to find vacancies is to do an online search for “dental assistant” in your area.
- If you have completed a certified program, ask a teacher or career counselor to help you find job openings.
- If you want to work in a particular practice, you can contact them directly to make sure they have a vacancy.
Step 2. Apply for a job as a dental assistant
Make sure you meet the requirements listed on each vacancy. During the interview, don't forget to share your credentials as a dental assistant as well as your experience in customer service.
- Some jobs require you to have a year or more of experience. However, you might be a bit lucky if you can land an entry-level job (the first job a fresh graduate gets after completing a training program), which of course doesn't require several years of experience.
- If you have already completed a certified program, you can count the length of your supervised training as an experience.
Step 3. Consider pursuing a career as a dental nurse or dentist
After working as a dental assistant, you may love this field and decide to take your career further. The experience you have developed while helping a dentist can give you a better picture of the world of dentistry.
