Have you ever been to a dentist for your teeth? If yes, did you notice any aide assisting the dentist? Of course, you would, that is who a dental assistant is. It is easy to wonder who would spend years getting educated only to become a dental assistant instead of a dentist.
Well, you are probably right. But dental assistants are often overlooked because we don’t value them, but the truth Is they do the major work even than the most valued Dentists.
You want to ask how? Without wasting much of your time, let us journey together as you get enlightened about a dental assistant job description, duties, salaries, qualifications, and skills.
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Dental Assistant Job Description
A Dental assistant is a person who helps a dentist with prep work before the client is taken care of, patient records to update, paperwork, taking X-rays, ad fluoride and sealants to teeth, remove plaque, sterilization, and organization of dental tools, and provides support during dental procedures, etc
It was rated that about 332, 000 jobs are available for dental assistants, although they work under dentists or dental hygienists full time or part-time.
Dental Assistant Duties
The duty of a dental assistant includes the following;
- Prepare patients for their oral examination,
- Set up and maintain lab equipment,
- Set up appointments with client’s and follow up,
- Conduct and develop radiographs and X-rays,
- Set up room, instruments and sterilize equipment,
- Record client medical history,
- Provide aftercare,
- In charge of client billings and payments,
- Create pre-appointment questionnaires,
- Cleans the examination room,
- Handle equipment to dentists during dental procedures, etc
Dental Assistant Salary
A dental assistant salary is dependent on the location, educational qualifications, and experience. However, the Average Dental Assistant in the U.S earns $17.59 per hour while their wages range from $7.25-$33.15 per hour.
Dental Assistant Skills
To effectively work as a dental assistant after earning a degree, you need some skills to help you function adequately. Such skills include:
- Customer service skills,
- Communication skills,
- Administrative skills,
- Lab experience,
- Software experience,
- Organizational skills,
- Interpersonal relation skills,
- Critical thinking skills,
- Empathy skills, etc.
Dental Assistant Educational Qualifications
To be a certified Dental Assistant, you must go through the following processes, although most of it varies depending on the state.
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High School Certificate
You must possess a high school certificate or a GED where you have taken courses in Chemistry, Biology, and health.
Authorized Training Programs
For some states, you must go through a one-year program authorized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in any community colleges, technical schools, vocational schools, etc.
Licensing
After getting trained in an accredited school, and you have passed the written exam by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc, then you can proceed to get licensed or registered.
It is important to note that this requirement varies depending on your state and your employer.
Are There Different Types of Dental Assistants?
Yes, there are different types of dental assistant dependent on experience and qualifications which includes;
- Certified Dental Assistants,
- Registered Dental Assistants,
- Certified Orthodontic Assistants,
- Certified Functions Dental Assistants, etc.
What are the Tools Handled by a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants are responsible for handling, using, and taking care of different tools which include:
- Suction hose (also known as saliva ejector or spit-suction device),
- Dental tray,
- Sickle probe,
- Dental mirror,
- Burnisher,
- Bitewing,
- Scaler,
- Periodontal probe,
- Dental retractor,
- Dental drill,
- High-volume evacuator,
- Air-water syringe,
- X-ray machine,
- Excavators,
- Enamel hatchets,
- Dental hatchets,
- Computer systems and software, etc.
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Conclusion
A dental assistant is a good career, getting trained you can work with a dentist, physicians, or even the government, however, to effectively function in your place, you must possess technical, personal, and people skills listed above as well as get trained.
In the process of getting trained, do more volunteering or internship to gain more experience as this experience is an added advantage to your resume when on the search for a job.
You need to be focused, organized, friendly, and possess a strong hand as your work revolves around maintaining, cleaning, and organizing equipment as well as handling clients to ease a dentist’s task.
From the above, you can see a dental assistant is a great job and they perform more than a scientist. Do not hinder anyone you know from taking up a career in this path and do not forget to share if you find this helpful.
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