Becoming A Dental Assistant

If you are interested in becoming a dental assistant you probably already have an idea of what is involved in this role.   Every state has different rules but all require you to work under the direct supervision of a fully qualified dentist.  Some will allow a dental assistant to do a lot more tasks than in other states.  It is imperative you check with the local licensing board as to what you can and cannot do.  Do not make assumptions or presume that certain qualifications are sufficient.

Dental Assistant Job Description

The role of a dental assistant is varied and this is reflected in the job description. Your day can be spent meeting and greeting patients when they arrive at the surgery. You will locate and update their medical records and talk to them about what procedure is going to take place.   If you have just started your training you are likely to spend more of your time in an administrative role. You will probably prepare and send bills, collect payments and perhaps liaise with the insurance companies.  You may also be responsible for stock control and ordering the items used on an everyday basis. You may assist the dentist or hygienist with some routine tasks and may have responsibility for cleaning up afterwards.  All the equipment in the dental area must be kept sterile to prevent infection and the dental assistant will usually be responsible for the disinfection of used equipment.

As you become more experienced you will help the dentist during surgery. You may be responsible for making moulds, implants or taking x-rays.   Your supervisor may ask you to interpret the x-ray results to help you learn new skills.  You may study further to become qualified in radiation dentistry which is a relatively new and exciting field.  Radiation health and safety courses are mandatory in some states.

A dental assistant will wear glasses, gloves, a face mask and protective clothing while in surgery.  These items protect the dental staff from infection and also help to protect the patient by keeping the environment as sterile as possible.  Open cuts can become infected very easily so infection control is very important.

Dental Assistant Requirements:

In addition to the education requirements outlined below you will need a number of personality characteristics if you want to excel in this role.  You will have to have a clean record i.e. no felony convictions. If you plan on sitting the Certified Dental Assistant certification, the application form will require you to confirm that you have never been dismissed for unethical behavior or been declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.

You will need to be an effective communicator.  A significant number of people are scared of going to the dentist.  This fear can range from mild right through to paralysis which may necessitate a patient being sedated before undergoing treatment.  As a dental assistant, your role will involve placating patients and trying to resolve or reduce their fears.  You must have the ability to explain some complicated procedures in language the patient will understand.  Using jargon or medical terminology will only add to their fear.

You must work well with other people. The dentist will rely on you as his second pair of hands so he must be able to trust you completely.  As you work together, you will develop a rapport and soon you will be able to anticipate what you need to do next without having to be told.

You must be eager to continue learning.  Advances in technology and the procedures used in dental surgery mean that you cannot stop studying. You must be prepared to attend training seminars and read relevant dentistry publications.

You must be physically fit as the role involves a lot of standing.  In addition there are some procedures such as the removal of wisdom teeth or taking mouth x-rays which requires strength and dexterity.  The ability to stay calm under pressure as well as having patience to deal with the general public are also good characteristics to have if you want to be a successful dental assistant.

Dental Assistant Training

In the old days, those members of staff who assisted dentists learnt their job while working.  As they gained more experience the dentist allowed them to get more involved. Some dental practices still train their staff in this way but it is becoming more unusual.

In some states you cannot do certain parts of the dental assisting job unless you have been formally trained.  This usually means that you are required to have completed some dental assistant programs.  Some 37 states require you to have passed the Certified Dental Assistant credential (CDA) offered by the Dental Assisting National Board.  Don’t let the fact that not every employer requires this certification prevent you from taking this exam.  Generally higher pay and better promotion prospects are available and those dental assistant resume with CDA generally go to the top of the pile when employers are looking to fill a vacancy.

You can qualify to sit the exam by passing a CODA accredited course or by having at least two years full time relevant experience. In addition to passing the certification exam you will also need to complete some continuing education requirements in order to maintain your certification.

The most basic CODA accredited course will take up to a year to complete but a lot of students will elect to study for a two year associates degree. You may find that you qualify for government incentives and/or tax relief on the costs of the degree.

These dental assistant training programs cover biology, chemistry, general health and business management in addition to specific dental related duties.   For example those involved in dental assisting must be experts in oral hygiene as you will be expected to impart your knowledge to the surgery patients.   If you want to get involved in more cutting edge routines such as those involving radiation you will need to complete specialist dental assistant programs.

The Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam is made up of three parts and you have the choice of completing all three in one sitting if you opt for the computer based testing or taking them within a five year period to achieve the certification.  If you take the three exams via the Pearson center it will take four hours and you will be asked 320 questions.  The exam is graded for scoring with those who pass scoring 400 or more.

The three components are:

1)      Radiation Health And Safety (RHS) (100 questions)

2)      Infection Control (ICE) (100 questions)

3)      General Chairside Assisting (GC)  (120 questions)

There are no eligibility requirements to take the first two exams which can also be taken together. Some new entrants to the dental assisting field will start by taking these exams and then work towards achieving eligibility for the final component. You must also hold a valid CPR certification in order to be able to use the CDA designation.

In addition to attending dentist assistant school you will usually be required to complete some on the job training too.  Every dentist works in a slightly different way and as you will be working closely together you will have to learn their particular schedule and ways of working.

Dental Assistant Schools

Only study at dental assistant schools that have been accredited by the commission on dental accreditation (CODA).  Some internet based schools and other private colleges advertise dental assisting courses that last between four and six months.  While it can seem attractive to study for a shorter period of time you will often find that these courses are not CODA accredited and will not look as good on your dental assistant resume.

It is possible to study online but you are best seeking either a course that combines online access with offline tuition facilities or a local college course. In order to get the most benefit from your studies you will want access not only to theoretical knowledge but also to laboratory work and preclinical studies.  The latter aren’t possible to achieve via a dental assisting certificate online only program.

Future for Dental Assistant Jobs:

There are huge opportunities in this career field.  The field of dentistry is expanding every day with procedures that used to require hospitalization now taking place daily in dental surgeries around the country.  You could be employed at your local dental practice doing ordinary dental procedures such as fillings and dentures. Or you may want to specialize in dental plastic surgery procedures.  You may prefer to work with a specialist such as an oral surgeon and may be based at a hospital instead of a clinic.

Some of those involved in dental assisting will prefer not to get involved in the practical side of this role and will work purely on the administrative side.

Some dental assistants do not want to work with the general public and will work in laboratories instead. Here they will work on developing dental prosthetics, temporary crowns etc. Others will work in the sales arena selling dental equipment to the dental practices and hospitals.  You could also work for insurance companies in their anti fraud departments.  There has been such a rise in the number of bogus claims being made that insurance companies find it cost effective to employ qualified medical personnel to process and check specific types of claims.

For those that want to combine a dental assisting career with some opportunities for travel, the armed forces need all types of medically trained staff including dental assistants.  The U.S. Air Force and the Department Of Veteran Affairs require the Certificate of Dental Assisting so make sure that is on your resume if you wish to apply.

The outlook for this type of role is very good. Many of the older dentists who may not have liked to work with assistants are retiring leaving the way for younger graduates who are only too happy to delegate the more routine tasks.  They want to free up their time to concentrate on the more exiting aspects of their profession.

Medical science is advancing all the time and some discoveries have helped the dentistry community expand.  For example the link between tooth decay and heart or kidney disease has convinced more people of the need to attend their dental surgeries on a more regular basis.  Socially, bad breath or halitosis to use the correct medical term is not acceptable and treatment must be sought or you could find yourself publicly ostracized.

People have come to realize that they don’t have to accept that losing teeth and wearing dentures comes with old age. Having routine dental check ups together with practicing proper oral hygiene techniques can prevent tooth decay and loss.

While advances in technology can help they will never replace the need for human staff in dental practices.  A computer has yet to be developed that can show empathy to scared patients!

How Much Do Dental Assistants Make?

The salary you earn will depend on where you work and your level of experience but generally speaking you could be looking at an average salary of between $35,000 and $40,000 after only five year’s experience.  With one year’s work experience and assuming you are properly qualified you can expect to earn between $22,000 and $30,000.

Some dental assistants will work for one dental practice while others will become freelancers.  If you like the idea of having more control over your work i.e. the location and the hours you may like the idea of working part time for different dental practices.  Some people hate the idea of working for one boss.  You may be able to command a higher hourly rate but you will usually not be entitled to the same benefits as a permanent member of staff. You will have to allow for the cost of health care, 401k contributions, life cover, sick pay and holidays when calculating which route provides higher remuneration.  There can be certain tax advantages to working as a freelancer but your accountant or financial adviser will elaborate on those.

Generally speaking those working in the dental assisting arena will work a 40 hour week with evenings and Saturdays usually considered part of the working week.  There is generally an opportunity for earning extra money through overtime or working for agencies during your time off.