dental assistant

                           Dental assistant

Duties and responsibilities: Dental assistants have more than one responsibility throughout their work day. Dental assistants may seat patients in the treatment area, pass requested instruments to the dentist during dental procedures, sterilize and prepare an instrument needed. They can also polish clinical crowns, and developed x-rays. A last interesting thing that assistant dentist may do is take impressions of teeth for study models. Assistant dentist have many duties and these are just a few. The dental assistant is a multi-skilled member of the dental health team, dedicated to assisting the dentist with all phases of dentistry.

Salary: A dental assistant’s median pay (annual) is 34,500

Education:  Dental Assisting programs tend to focus solely on technical training through classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass a state exam. Most programs are offered by community colleges, take about 1 year to complete, and lead to a certificate or diploma. Programs that last 2 years, also offered in community colleges, are less common and lead to an associate’s degree.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

No, I do not think I would like to become a Dental Assistant because a dental assistant is focused on teeth and in my perspective I would not enjoy to be in this career. I have different perspectives and likes, and this is not one of them. Although dentist assistants are a big part of a dentist’s job, I don’t think I would give it my all if I wasn’t really interested. I see myself doing another type of career even though a dentist assistant is great for any other person that would really enjoy this job.