Is a Career as a Dental Assistant Right for You?

There will always be a never ending demand for dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants because people will always need to care for their teeth. There are many appealing facets to this profession, for example dentists make an excellent salary. Their hygienists and assistants can also earn top pay. It is crucial not to confuse a dental assistant with a dental hygienist, as these are two separate jobs with different qualifications required.

The time spent in school by the dental assistant is a lot shorter than that of the hygienist. Dental assistants attend school for a shorter period of time than hygienists, therefore they make less on average and their job duties are somewhat different. The dental assistant has many tasks to perform in a day's work. He or she may capture or develop X-ray images, taking patient vital signs and collecting data, preparing rooms and equipment for new patients, taking impressions of teeth, instructing patients on good home dental care and more. There are so many different tasks and you get to see so many different people in one day it is unlikely you'll get bored on the job.

Education requirements are quite achievable for anyone who wants to pursue this career, whether they are just out of high school or already a working adult with a family ready to change careers. There are colleges and trade schools with dental assistant programs where you can earn a certificate upon finishing the course. There is also a national exam called the CDA exam that upon successful completion will give the assistant certification on a national level. This gives you a better chance of finding a well-paying job in this field anywhere in the country.

You may start out as a dental assistant, but as time goes by you may want to continue your education in the field. Many employers now offer tuition reimbursement for employees who are going to school to further their position with the company. For example you may want to transition from assistant to hygienist or even someday become a dentist. If you already work as an assistant during the day, there are night courses and even distance learning home study schools that allow you to earn your degree around your current schedule. A career in dental assisting is very rewarding because you get to help others, and can be lucrative for you. Many dentists offer their employees handsome benefit packages in addition to their pay.






 

Dental Assistant News:

 

School news for January 21, 2012
Osceola County School Districts Professional and Technical High School from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 4, will host an open house for students and parents interested in attending the school for the 2012-13 school year...


Dental assistant class completion
Assist to Succeed Dental Assisting School in Benton is proud to announce the successful completion of their eleven-week course by ten area residents...


Meet your DANB certification goals with the DALE Foundation - Dentistry IQ

Meet your DANB certification goals with the DALE Foundation
Dentistry IQ
EURI like the idea of working on courses on my own time,EUR says Allison, a dental assistant from Colorado. EURThese courses are easy to navigate; I can save wherever I left off and pick it right back up the next day. I am also able to make my own notes and .

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Fired Penn State coach Joe Paterno dead at 85
Joe Paterno, the longtime Penn State coach who won more games than anyone in major college football but was fired amid a child sex abuse scandal that scarred his reputation for winning with integrity, died Sunday. He was 85...


Huntington woman surrenders to face charges of prescription fraud - Lufkin Daily News

Huntington woman surrenders to face charges of prescription fraud
Lufkin Daily News
A former Lufkin dental assistant turned herself in Wednesday on four counts of prescription fraud. Heather Terry of Huntington, a former Palmer Dental employee, turned herself in to Pct. 1 Constable Tom Selman Wednesday morning and is out of the .

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GC Dentist Leads Nassau County Dental Society
Dr. Albert L. Granger Dr. Albert L. Granger, who practices dentistry in Garden City, was installed as the 65th President of the Nassau County Dental Society at a gala ceremony held on January 21, 2012 at the Glen Cove County Club, Glen Cove, New York...


Joe Paterno Dies at 85
In this photo taken Jan. 12, 2012, Susan Paterno, left, sits with her husband, former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno as he is interviewed at his home in State College, Pa. In his first public comments since being fired two months ago, Paterno told The Washington Post he "didn't know which way to go" after an assistant coach came to him in 2002 saying he had seen retired defensive ...


Anthem College Campuses in St. Louis Area Hosting Open Houses January 18
Colleges feature allied health programs in massage therapy, dental assistant, medical assistant, and moreFenton & Maryland Heights, MO (PRWEB) January 12, 2012 Two Anthem College campuses in Maryland Heights and Fenton will host Open Houses next Wednesday, January 18, from 9 am to 8 pm. EURAnthem College will kick-off 2012 with a strong, positive message about the value of education,EUR says ...


New clinic treats dental emergencies - Charlotte Observer

New clinic treats dental emergencies
Charlotte Observer
By Elisabeth Arriero From left, dental assistant Sandy Bates, receptionist Sloane Johnson and Dr. Donna Knowlton work at the emergency dental clinic in Mooresville, which opened in September. PHOTOS BY ELISABETH ARRIERO - earriero@charlotteobserver.com .

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Diman dental students sparkle during taste of working world - Fall River Spirit

Diman dental students sparkle during taste of working world
Fall River Spirit
But this moment was a first for the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School senior EUR a glimpse of what could be her career. "It was a good chance to be live with a patient," said Gervasio, a student in the school's Dental Assisting course of .

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The final look at the 2011 Dental Assisting Digest salary survey - Dentistry IQ

The final look at the 2011 Dental Assisting Digest salary survey
Dentistry IQ
There needs to be legislation to make it mandatory for dental assistants to be trained in every state. This would be beneficial to the assistant and the doctor! The nature of the job lends itself to this being a necessity. I don't understand why there .

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Construction set to begin on long-awaited regional voke
New-school vision finally taking form After many years of waiting, area officials are celebrating the approaching start of a project to provide the region with a new vocational agricultural high school. This April or May, workers will begin the excavation work involved with the $133.8 million school, which is being built on the Essex Agricultural and Technical High Schools 166-acre campus on ...


New year, new you -- a fresh start in the new year - Dentistry IQ

New year, new you -- a fresh start in the new year
Dentistry IQ
If any of you are going to be at the Yankee Dental Congress, stop by the ADAA booth and say hi! In the meantime, if there is any way we can help, I want to hear from you. EURTo advance the careers of dental assistants and to promote the dental assisting .

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Contemporary Product Solutions reviews Gluma PowerGel from Heraeus - Dentistry IQ

Contemporary Product Solutions reviews Gluma PowerGel from Heraeus
Dentistry IQ
Please check your state's dental practice act, or go to the State-Specific Information section of DANB's website, www.danb.org, to make sure that, as a dental assistant, you can perform the duties related to this product.

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