Increase your earnings potential with a career in Dental Assisting

January 16th, 2008

Dental Assistants are a valuable part of the dental care process. A career in Dental Assisting requires the job seeker to be people-oriented, have strong communication skills and enjoy working with their hands. An accredited Dental Assisting program will provide the technical skills needed to prepare for certification.

The salary of a Dental Assistant depends primarily upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographical location of employment. In 2006, the median hourly earnings were $14.53 for Dental Assistants, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov.

Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), almost all full-time Dental Assistants employed by private practitioners received paid vacation time. The ADA also found that nine out of ten full-time and part-time Dental Assistants received dental coverage.

Under the supervision of a licensed dentist, Dental Assistants perform supportive procedures in the clinical treatment of patients and/or the training of dental students; and perform other duties as assigned. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), Dental Assistants' responsibilities may include:

1. Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
2. Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
3. Asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse
4. Serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment
5. Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
6. Providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)
7. Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
8. Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
9. Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer
10. Communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)

The Commission on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental Association (ADA) approved 265 Dental Assisting training programs in 2005. Programs include classroom, laboratory and preclinical instruction in Dental Assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics or dental offices. Most programs take one year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community or junior colleges lead to an Associates degree. All programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent and some require science or computer-related courses for admission. A number of private vocational schools offer 4-month to 6-month courses in Dental Assisting, but the Commission on Dental Accreditation does not accredit these programs.

Dental Assistants can become certified by passing an examination that evaluates their knowledge. Most Dental Assistants who choose to become nationally certified take the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination. Becoming a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) assures the public that the Dental Assistant is prepared to assist competently in the precision of dental care.

As reported by the American Dental Association (ADA), Dental Assistants held about 277,040 jobs in 2006. Job prospects for Dental Assistants should be excellent. Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the types of practice settings available to Dental Assistants include:

1. Solo dental practices (practices with only one dentist)
2. Group practices (practices with two or more dentists)
3. Specialty practices, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery (removal of teeth and correction of facial deformities), orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics (straightening teeth with braces or other appliances), endodonics (root canal treatment), periodontics (treatment of gum problems), prosthodontics (replacement of lost teeth) and pediatric dentistry (treatment of children)
4. Public health dentistry, including settings such as schools and clinics which focus on the prevention of dental problems within entire communities
5. Hospital dental clinics assisting dentists in the treatment of bedridden patients
6. Dental school clinics, assist dental students as they learn to perform dental procedures

Without further education, advancement opportunities are limited, according to the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Some Dental Assistants become office managers, dental-assisting instructors or dental product sales representatives. Others go back to school to become dental hygienists. For many, this entry-level occupation provides basic training and experience and serves as a stepping stone to more highly skilled and higher paying jobs.

A career in Dental Assisting could be for you!

For more information on becoming a Dental Assistant, contact an accredited Dental Assisting program and arrange to talk with a counselor and visit the school.