Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain and update patients' dental records. Dental assistants with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials.
Related job titles are: Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA), Orthodontic Assistant, Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Oral Surgery Assistant, Surgical Dental Assistant, Expanded Dental Assistant, or Expanded Duty Dental Assistant.
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DENTAL ASSISTING COURSES AND DEGREES
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Important Dental Assistant Degree Information -Top of Page-
- Job prospects should be excellent.
- Dentists are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks so dentists may devote their time to more complex procedures.
- Many assistants learn their skills on the job, although an increasing number are trained in dental-assisting programs; most programs take 1 year or less to complete.
- More than one-third of dental assistants worked part time in 2008.
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Salary? || Dental Assistant Pay -Top of Page-
Median annual wages of dental assistants were $32,380 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,980 and $38,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,150. Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), 86 percent of Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) reported receiving paid vacation from their employers, and more than half of CDAs received health benefits.
What is a Dental Assistant? || What does a Dental Assistant do? || Job Descriptions -Top of Page-
Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, and process dental x rays as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place dental dams to isolate teeth for treatment. Many States are expanding dental assistants' duties to include tasks such as coronal polishing and restorative dentistry functions for those assistants who meet specific training and experience requirements.
Dental assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Those 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 a different set of clinical tasks.
Working Conditions for Dental Assistants -Top of Page-
Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Almost half of dental assistants had a 35- to 40-hour workweek in 2008. More than one-third worked part time, or less than 35 hours per week, and many others have variable schedules.
How to become a Dental Assistant || Dental Assistant Classes and Degree Programs -Top of Page-
Many assistants learn their skills in dental-assisting programs offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, technical institutes. Most programs take 1 year to complete. For assistants to perform more advanced functions, or to have the ability to complete radiological procedures, many States require assistants to obtain a license or certification.
Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. Most programs take close to 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree.
A period of on-the-job training is often required even for those who have completed a dental-assisting program or have some previous experience.As dental technology changes, dental assistants need to stay familiar with the instruments and procedures that they will be using or helping dentists to use.
Most States regulate the duties that dental assistants are allowed to perform. Some States require licensure or registration to perform expanded functions or to perform radiological procedures within a dentist’s office. Licensure may include attending an accredited dental assisting program and passing a written or practical examination.
Where are the Dental Assistant Jobs? -Top of Page-
Dental assistants held about 295,300 jobs in 2008. About 93 percent of all jobs for dental assistants were in offices of dentists. A small number of jobs were in the Federal, State, and local governments or in offices of physicians.
Dental Assistant Job Opportunities and Outlook -Top of Page-
Employment is expected to increase much faster than average; job prospects are expected to be excellent. Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services.