Being an assistant to a dentist is currently a popular option when deciding on a career. If you enjoy a busy job with many different tasks, then starting yourself in a dental assistant program may be a great option for you. First, a word about what you’ll be doing in this job. These assistants are responsible for sterilizing equipment, getting the patient comfortable, giving them instructions on how to care for their teeth, and obtaining the patient’s records. They will also help the dentist by suctioning excess saliva out of the patient’s mouth and handing the dentist tools as they need them. They take X-rays, insert mouth dams, remove stitches, and take impressions of the patient’s mouth. In small clinics, these assistants may also perform secretarial duties from time to time at the clinic’s front desk. Are you still interested in dental assistant programs? Then continue reading below.
Colleges offer two year associates degrees to students interested in becoming these assistants. The C omission on Dental Accreditation also offers one year programs. While some private schools offer six months of training, which can be informative, they are not accredited organizations.
On the job training is still common, and often you can enter this field with nothing but a high school degree. If you choose this route, your boss will teach you the names of all the equipment, how they are used, and the duties you will have on the job. They will teach you proper terms and how to properly interact with patients.
With this career, you are going to find that there are many courses that you will be required to take. You should look into the requirements for the state you currently live in before you move further.
After graduating from college or from the CDA, many people choose to go on to get their official certification because they can earn more money and be more likely to get a job this way. To do this the assistants must pass a written exam given by the Dental Assistant National Board.
The exam is four hours long and contains three hundred and twenty questions. Assistants taking the test must score at least a four hundred on a scale of one hundred to nine hundred and contains three sections: the general chairside test, the radiation health and safety test, and the infection control test.
This test can show future employers that the assistant meets a superior level of oral care and is highly qualified for working in the dental assistant field. Being certified can be reassuring to patients and potential employers. If you went to an unaccredited training facility or were trained on the job, you must have two years of on the job experience before you can take this exam.
These are all things you should be prepared to do if you are interested in being an assistant, which is a worthwhile career that can help you improve the lives of people every day. Before you jump into it, make sure you have what it takes to be in the dental assistant program.
