- Dental Assistants assist the dental operator (dentist or other treating dental auxiliary) in providing more efficient dental treatment, by preparing the patient for treatment, sterilizing instruments, passing instruments during the procedure, holding suction devices, exposing dental radiographs, taking impressions, and fabricating provisional crowns.
- Dental operators can focus more time on the procedure; the dental assistant then effectively becomes the operator’s extra hands.
Eligibility:
Those who have opted for subjects like biology and chemistry in high school would have an advantage over others. There are several formal course options for those who wish to obtain a registered dental assistant certification. Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) course is one option. Community colleges offer a 1 year diploma or certificate program or a 2 year associate degree program.
Job prospects:
- There are attractive career options for students with dental assistant degrees and they keep getting better and better only. Right from bottom level positions to high leadership positions, students have amazing dental assistant careers before them.
- Positions available usually are:
- Dental assistant in hospitals
- Dental assistant in clinics
- Leadership positions such as Dental Office Supervisor
- Dental Assistant Supervisor
