Are you considering returning to school in order to earn a dental assistant job? The reality is that a growing number of people are deciding to pursue a career in the dental field. After all, according to the United State’s Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities for dental assistants are expected to grow much faster than the average occupation over the next several years. But, what exactly does it take to be a dental assistant and where can you go to get the training you need to start a career in the field?

Working as a Dental Assistant

As a dental assistant, your exact duties will vary depending upon where you live and depending up the needs of your employer. In some states, the duties a dental assistant is able to perform are more restricted than in other states. For example, you may be able to take patient x-rays in one state, while another state may require the dentist to perform this task. In addition, some dentists hire some dental assistants to primarily handle patient files while other assistants may have more direct interaction with patients.

Regardless of where you are hired to work as a dental assistant, there are several duties you should be able to perform. Some of the functions a dental assistant typically performs include:

· Sterilizing and disinfecting equipment and instruments
· Preparing materials and laying them out for the dentist to use
· Obtaining patient dental records
· Assisting with making the patient more comfortable and prepared for treatment
· Handing materials to the dentist as he or she performs procedures
· Keeping the patient’s mouth clear and dry as the dentist performs procedures
· Providing the patient with post-procedural instructions
· Taking and processing x-rays
· Removing sutures
· Applying anesthetics or cavity-preventive agents to the patient’s teeth
· Making casts of teeth or temporary crowns within the lab
· Scheduling and confirming appointments
· Sending bills and receiving payments
· Ordering supplies

Depending upon your employer, you may be called upon to perform more office duties than procedural duties, but your exact duties will depend upon the dentist’s needs at the time.

Obtaining a Dental Assistant Degree

If you are interested in obtaining a dental assistant degree, you might want to consider attending a school such as Intellitec College. Intellitec College offers a variety of short-term programs that specialize in specific areas of study, including dental assisting. The school provides hands-on training within a fully equipped dental lab area in order to make certain you are fully prepared for a career as a dental assistant. As part of the program, you will learn about proper chair-side assisting, how to manage a front office and how to properly educate patients and perform lab procedures. In addition, after you graduate, Intellitec College will provide you with job placement assistance.

If you have an interest in the dental field but you don’t want to have to go to college for several years before you can get started in a great career, you might want to consider applying to a dental assistant college and getting started today!