Dental Assistants are integral members of the dental team. They can assist a dentist in providing much more effective dental care. Dental assistants differ significantly from other occupational groups of dental assistants by differentiating their duties, roles, educational training, and patient scope. In addition to helping dentists perform dental procedures, they can perform common office tasks as part of their role as dental assistants.
To be an effective dental assistant, you should have patience, flexibility, the ability to multi-task and understand scheduling appointments. A dental assistant is required to follow and understand all appointment instructions carefully. One of his or her responsibilities is to set up appointments and to make sure that all dental procedures are performed properly. Dental assistants are also expected to create and maintain the dentist’s patient files.
Dental assistants may also be required to perform some duties during dental exams. One of these may include sterilizing dental equipment. Sterilizing dental equipment involves placing dental equipment into a receptacle or tray that has been adequately sterilized. Afterward, the equipment will be removed from the patient and disposed of.
Since dental assistant jobs often involve heavy lifting, you may have to lift and position patients who have to be moved around. Another responsibility of your career as a dental assistant is making notes about dental procedures. The letters are usually used for billing purposes. Dental assistants are expected to complete pre-dental assistant courses and receive formal training at Dallas Dental Assistant School.
You will need to pass the Certified Dental Assistant (DDA) examination. This examination is conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), which is administered by the Council of Colleges of Pharmacy Accreditation (CCPA). After passing the CDA examination, you will need to obtain verification of your DDA certificate from the appropriate Dental Assisting National Board. Your certificate will grant you eligibility for dental assistants jobs and allow you to work under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
To be a successful dental assistant you will have to complete an associate degree program or certificate program. In the course of the program you will learn about sterilizing dental equipment, using handpieces, dental procedures, proper oral hygiene procedures, and anatomy and physiology. To complete your course successfully, it is important that you have adequate knowledge of math, chemistry, biology, and anatomy. You will also need to have some background in English, math, and science. To help you better find a job you should submit your DDA certification records to potential employers.
The CDA exam requirements are based on the laws and regulations that are set forth by the American Dental Association. For individuals who graduated from dental assistant programs located outside of the United States, you will be required to take an examination to become certified in oral health and medical care. Oral health and medical care encompass all areas of medicine that are related to oral health: diagnosing, treating, preventing, and improving diseases of the oral cavity and oral health; preparing and transporting patients in and out of dental offices; providing services in a dental office; providing services to individuals and families in the dental chair; and assisting a dentist during routine dental treatments.
If you are interested in working in the dental field but are unsure of your choice of career, you may want to consider community colleges and professional schools first. These two options allow you to get the necessary training and education that you need to start your career in the field of health care. Your willingness to work in close collaboration with other dental assistants, a strong sense of teamwork, and your ability to follow directions are qualities that you will be taught and valued in a job as a dental assistant. If these qualities are something that you would like to possess in order to pursue a career in the dental field, then community colleges and professional schools are a great option for you.