As a dental assistant, focusing on a particular area can be the key to unlocking additional opportunities and rapidly boosting your career. Better yet, it can lead to unmatched happiness and fulfillment when it comes to your career – and who doesn’t want that out of a job? Continue reading to learn a little more about what it means to specialize as a dental assistant, a few of the different fields you could consider, and why the decision is ultimately very worthwhile!

Research Different Specializations Beforehand

Generally, dental assistants need to be able to use the technology housed in each practice, and they also need to be able to work comfortably with dentists and patients alike. Beyond that, they also need a lot of practical knowledge concerning tools, terminology, and oral wellness.

But when you specialize, you have even more that you’ll need to keep up with. For those who are considering specializing as a dental assistant, it’s wise to research all of the different options and requirements. Some common specializations include:

• Public Health, which comes with a heavy emphasis on providing treatment to low-income communities and educating patients.
• Pediatric Dentistry, which allows dental assistants to work closely with children of all ages.
• Oral Pathology, which focuses on treating diseases of the mouth such as oral cancer.
• Cosmetic Dentistry, or dental procedures that aim to improve a smile’s aesthetics.
• Orthodontics, an area focused on creating, placing, reconfiguring, and removing braces and other similar appliances.
• Endodontics, an area focused on the care of the dental pulp, the innermost part of a tooth.
• Prosthodontics, which involves creating dental prosthetics for patients with missing teeth.
• Periodontics, which involves care for the gums, bones, and tissue surrounding the teeth.
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which includes oral surgical procedures like dental implant placement.

Why Specializing Is Worthwhile

These specialized fields often require additional credentials, such as certificates or college-level education in the particular field. However, these requirements are easily attainable, and they aren’t meant to serve as roadblocks – in reality, they’re necessary to ensure optimal care is provided for every patient you and your dentist treat!

Plus, regardless of which option you select, when you specialize, you’re highly likely to find not just a lucrative position in dentistry, but also a satisfying one. By preparing beforehand and having the dedication to pursue a specialization, you’ll serve as a truly meaningful presence within the dental world, and you shouldn’t feel frustrated or exhausted by the work you’re doing, since it’ll be in your wheelhouse! That said, do your homework beforehand, find something that interests you and seems realistic, and consider a practice looking for said specialization.

About the NE Dental Academy

Our team here at the NE Dental Academy has helped countless aspiring dental assistants over the years to realize their career goals and find their place within this ever-growing and always-exciting industry, and we would love to help you next! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to request additional enrollment information, feel free to contact us online or by phone for assistance. Telephone: (508) 392-5314.