A Career as a Dental Assistant

What does a dental assistant do?

Dental assistants are responsible for the clinical function of the practice both directly and indirectly assisting the doctor. Some of the tasks that a dental assistant may be required to perform:

• Prepare, disinfect and sterilize instruments, handpieces and cassettes.
• Organize and set up instrument trays, cassettes and materials and prepare the dental operatory for the procedures about to be completed.
• Directly assist the doctor during treatment keeping mouths dry and clear and passing instruments or materials at the right time to keep the doctor focused on the procedure.
• Expose diagnostic dental radiographs, or x-rays.
• Record and organize treatment information in patient records.
• Gather and record both dental and medical histories and vital signs of patients.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by the dentist or hygienist.
• Assist in the management of medical and dental emergencies.
• Pour, trim, mount and polish study casts.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene.
• Make preliminary molds and bite registrations for study casts
• Clean and polish removable appliances

Most importantly, a great dental assistant keeps patients comfortable both before and during procedures. Many patients are afraid or distressed when they come to the office. Dental assistants are the first face a patient may see upon entering the clinical area and the last person to see them off once their dental treatment is completed. Not only will you find that dental assistants have technical challenges, but they must be friendly, polite and people-oriented as well.

Educational Requirements

Fortunately, dental assisting is one of the few healthcare support professions that can be undertaken with just a high school diploma or GED. A little more than half of dental assistants have gotten a 2 year or equivalent degree. Many community colleges offer courses that take a year or more leading to a DA II certification. Many assistants surveyed learned either on-the-job or through an accelerated learning class like the Dental Staff Institute.

In North Carolina, assistants are classified as DA level I or II. The amount of supervision required and the level of your clinical responsibility is determined by this designation. While a DA II must have an advanced degree (a year of study or at least 3,000 clinical hours of experience) and possess a variety of additional certifications, a DA I can begin earning money shortly after taking an accelerated learning course to obtain their initial state certifications. As your clinical skills progress, you have the option of expanding your responsibilities through continued education, gaining your clinical hours and becoming a part of an organization like the ADAA (American Dental Assisting Association).

For a more detailed look at DA-I vs. DA-II certifications, click here.

Wages and Job Outlook

The Department of Labor puts together statistics each year about different careers. The current report states that job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. Throughout the whole country, employment for dental assistants is expected to grow over 29%. This is much faster than than most occupations - in fact - dental assisting will be one of the fastest growing occupations from 2006-2016. North Carolina, because of its high growth, is even better! Employment for dental assistants is expected to grow by 53% from 2002-2012!

To see this report for yourself , click here.

In addition, dental assistants earn good money while working in a clean, well-lighted environment with good hours. The national average is between $11.94 and $17.44 an hour depending on skills and certifications. Dental assistants with experience and expanded duties can earn over $20.00 an hour. In Charlotte, where the current demand is high, salaries are even higher.