Dental assistants are the backbone of any dental practice; without them, dentists simply wouldn’t be able to provide the life-changing care that our smiles need. And if you’re thinking about becoming a dental assistant, you probably have a lot of questions about the job itself – and the more you know about this exciting career, the more you’ll want to pursue it! Continue reading to learn more about dental assistants and why this exciting career path is worth considering.
What Are Dental Assistants Responsible For?
A better question here would be “What don’t dental assistants do?” because they truly do a little bit of everything within the dental office! They provide patient care, take X-rays, assist with recordkeeping, schedule appointments and help out with billing, and support dentists with various other important tasks. In order to carry out all of these duties, dental assistants need to have solid foundational knowledge of dentistry, concerning things like instrument names and technical terms, certain treatment methods, and above all else, how to ease patients during treatment.
What Does a Dental Assistant’s Work Environment Look Like?
As you might assume, almost all dental assistants work in dentists’ offices. Most work full-time, but it is possible to find a part-time position. Many dental offices have atypical hours too and might be open late at night or during weekends, but don’t fret, you’ll certainly get days off. The dental office environment is also everchanging, and no two days are truly the same. Some days are hectic, and you’ll be seeing patients back-to-back, while others might be slower, and you’ll have more time to focus on administrative duties and the sort. If you thrive on the unexpected, you’ll feel right at home!
What Is the Dental Assistant Career Path?
Dental assistants themselves are a valuable role that will always be in demand; they’re simply too useful for dentists to be without! Research shows that the employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by around 7% annually for the next ten years, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
There are also several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant, making it a fairly accessible position for most people. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program, while others don’t require formal education, and more emphasis is placed on on-site training. With a low barrier to entry and promising pay (the median is $46k annually as of 2022), as well as the potential for upward mobility, it will continue to remain an expanding and enticing option.
Not to mention, once you’ve got a few years of experience under your belt, you can begin specializing if there’s a particular field that interests you, such as endodontics, orthodontics, pediatrics and more. This personalization is something that few jobs in general can offer! So if you’re thinking about embarking on this career path, know that it’s an exciting one that won’t disappoint you.
About the NE Dental Academy
Here at the NE Dental Academy, we’ve proudly helped countless dental assistants over the years to realize their career goals and find their place within this remarkable field. If you have any questions about the article or you’d like to request additional enrollment information, feel free to contact us online or by phone for assistance. Telephone: (508) 392-5314.