Dental assistant

Duties and responsibilities: Dental assistants typically do the following. Work with patients to make them comfortable in the dental chair and to prepare them for treatments and procedures. Sterilize dental instruments. Prepare the work area for patient treatment by setting out instruments and materials. Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures. Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses and other equipment. Instruct patients in proper dental hygiene. Process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist. Keep records of dental treatments. Schedule patient appointments. Work with patients on billing and payment. Assistants who perform lab tasks, such as making casts of a patient’s teeth, work under the direction of a dentist. They may prepare materials for casts of teeth or to create temporary crowns. All dental assistants complete tasks, such as helping dentists with procedures and keeping patient records, but there are four regulated tasks that assistants may perform, depending on the state where they work.

Salary: $25,550-$47,580

Education: High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, and anatomy. 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. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), part of the American Dental Association, approved more than 250 dental-assisting training programs in 2013. Accredited programs include classroom and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, gums, jaws, and other areas that dentists work on and the instruments that dentists use. These programs also include supervised, practical experience.

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Reflection: I think being a dental assistant would be a good job because it seems interesting. I would like to help the dentist in preparation for whatever he or she may need. Also because I would like the patient to have good teeth.