Job Description
The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. Although state regulations vary, responsibilities may include:
- assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
- taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
- asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse
- serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment
- helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
- providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)
- teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health;
(e.g., toothbrushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
- taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
- performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer
- communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)
- helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and oral surgery
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Career Advantages
- Variety: Dental assisting is a challenging and rewarding career, demanding versatility and a willingness to assume responsibility for many different tasks.
- Flexibility: Since dental assistants are in demand, career options include both full-time and part-time positions.
- Excellent working conditions: Dental offices are interesting, pleasant, people-oriented environments in which to work.
- Personal satisfaction: Dental assisting involves people contact, and with this personal interaction comes the personal satisfaction of knowing you've really helped someone by helping to provide a valuable health service.
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Opportunities
Since many dentists employ two or more dental assistants, employment opportunities in this field are excellent. The types of practice settings available to dental assistants include:
- solo dental practices (practices with only one dentist)
- group practices (practices with two or more dentists)
- 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), endodontics (root canal treatment), periodontics (treatment of gum problems), prosthodontics (replacement of lost teeth) and pediatric dentistry (treatment of children)
- public health dentistry, including settings such as schools and clinics which focus on the prevention of dental problems within entire communities
- hospital dental clinics, assisting dentists in the treatment of bedridden patients
- dental school clinics, assisting dental students as they learn to perform dental procedures
Other career opportunities for dental assistants include:
- insurance companies, processing dental insurance claims
- vocational schools, technical institutes, community colleges dental schools and universities, teaching others to be dental assistants (which may require associate or baccalaureate college degrees)
- dental product sales representatives
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Education/Training Requirements
It takes a relatively short period of time to become a dental assistant. Dental assistants receive their formal education through academic programs at community colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes, universities or dental schools. Graduates of these programs usually receive certificates. Although the majority of academic dental assisting programs take nine to eleven months to complete, some schools offer accelerated training, part-time education programs or training via distance education.
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Accreditation
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association is responsible for accrediting dental assisting programs. There are approximately 256 Commission-accredited dental assisting programs in the United States as of 2001/2002.
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Certification
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 provision of dental care.
Dental assistants are eligible to take the CDA examination if they have completed a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Individuals who have been trained on the job or have graduated from non-accredited programs are eligible to take the national certification examination after they have completed two years of full-time work experience as dental assistants. Some states also recognize passage of components of the CDA examination, such as the Radiation Health and Safety examination, or the Infection Control examination, for licensing and regulatory purposes.
State regulations vary, and some states offer registration or licensure in addition to this national certification program.
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Earning Potential
The salary of a dental assistant depends primarily upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographic location of employment. Dental assistants earn salaries equal to other health care personnel with similar training and experience such as medical assistants, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, veterinary technicians and pharmacy assistants.
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Dental Assistant Career Video
Variety, security, flexibility and personal satisfaction are traits and attributes promoted in this 10-minute video. Specific information about job responsibilities, education, training and job opportunities also are addressed.
The full length video can be ordered via the Something to Smile About order form.
Video (2 min. excerpt)
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Additional Resources
Contact your dentist or the state and local dental society component of the American Dental Association in your area. Perhaps you can arrange for a brief visit to a dental office to observe dental assistants at work. You also can contact an accredited dental assisting program and arrange to talk with a counselor and visit the school.
For a list of accredited Dental Assisting programs throughout the country, contact:
Commission on Dental Accreditation,
211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-2718
E-mail: education@ada.org
American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)
35 E. Wacker Dr.
Suite 1730
Chicago, Illinois 60601-2211
312-541-1550
Fax: 312-541-1496
E-mail: adaal@aol.com
http://www.dentalassistant.org
Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB)
444 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-642-3368
1-800-FOR-DANB
FAX: 312-642-8507
http://www.danb.org
In addition to the voluntary national certification examination offered by the Dental Assisting National Board, some states require dental assistants to be registered. For more information on the type of education, training or registration dental assistants must have in your state, contact your state board of dental examiners . You can find this listing under "state government agencies" in the telephone directory.
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