A Dental Assistant’s Life
As children, we often feared the noise coming from the dentist’s office. We were afraid of the needles used to numb our gums while the Dentists worked through our oral cavities, oblivious to the thunderous beating of our hearts. While the Dentist is the one who gets to do the dirty work in our teeth, there is another person responsible for making sure that no “accidents” happen during the procedure. That person is the dental assistant. The one we see preparing the items to be used during the procedures and handing out dental instruments is the dental assistant. She’s the one who makes certain that all our dental records don’t get misplaced after the procedure, oftentimes she’s also the one who assists us as we sit down on the dental chair and get prepped for our cleaning.
A career as a dental assistant can be a rewarding experience, especially for those who consider dental hygiene as an integral part of maintaining overall health. Very few people appreciate what it means to have clean and healthy teeth. The dental assistant is responsible for making new or retrieving old patient records. They make sure that everything in the office is still present, jot down inventories to ensure that Dentists don’t loose anything and make sure to order materials that are lacking. These clerical jobs are part of what it means to have a successful dental assistant career. They need to be organized in everything they do because the Dentist basically depends on them to perform these tasks.
In the area, a dental assistant can perform prep work and basic cleaning of the equipment used. They are the ones who mix the cleaning compounds used by the dentist. Many dental assistants can also perform teeth cleaning duties. Those who need braces will have molds of their teeth taken by dental assistants. Taking x-rays of teeth are part of the hob description as well. For x-rays, the dental assistant needs to have steady hands so the plates come out perfectly clean and easy to read.
In order to become a dental assistant, one has to have a strong background in basic sciences such as biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. While clinical skills are the most important aspect of being a dental assistant, being educated in schools that offer training programs can help a great deal. Studying in a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental Association can get one an associates degree or certificate- something that employers are bound to notice when looking for jobs. Studying in an accredited school also means a better dental assistant salary bump and job security. Some dental offices can train lay persons to perform the duties of a dental assistant, but oftentimes these people don’t get to perform much of the tasks that a certified dental assistant can do. These on-site trained dental assistants also get lower salaries because of their poor qualifications, but some dental clinics offer free training for a minimum timed contract.
