Who can be a Dental Assistant?
Dental assistant courses are offered by many colleges, universities and other accredited education providers in different states. These courses have also different duration periods of trainings. However, completion of these courses is not enough for someone to be called certified assistant depending on which state the person is located. For someone to become a dental assistant, he or she must be able to take up an assistant course and be able to pass the examination given by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Passing the examination makes him or her Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). The said title can also be gained through undergoing at least two years of on-the-job training as an assistant.
What does an Assistant do?
The assistant is the one in charged of taking care of the patients. They are responsible in communicating with the patients-welcoming them, asking them about their medical histories, making them feel comfortable as dental care is administered to them by the dentist. He or she hands the instruments to the dentist when treatments or dental operations are performed. He or she also assists the dentist by removing sutures, and applying topical medicines on the patients' mouths. Making casts of teeth from dental impressions is also part of the dental assistant's job. Furthermore, sterilizing dental equipment and instruments and keeping them are included of his or her duties. He or she also answers phone calls and inquiries and schedules patients for dental appointments. The records and bills are also kept by a reliable assistant.
What are the Future Jobs of an Assistant Course Graduate?
Taking up this course is one of the steps taken by some before they become licensed dental hygienists or even dentists. A student of a dental assistant course may take into a higher step and level of career by proceeding and advancing his or her study into dentistry or being a dental hygienist. Nonetheless, being an assistant has a lot of jobs to take. One can become an assistant and have his or her individual practice with one dentist. He or she may also work together with a group of dental practitioners who works with a lot more dental partners. Aside from taking his or her level higher by becoming a dental hygienist or a dentist, he or she may take the higher step through specializations in dental practices such as orthodontics, periodontics, and pediatric dentistry. He or she may also get involved in handling hospital dental facilities to treat the patients being admitted to the hospital. Moreover, an assistant can get into the sales by working with companies selling dental equipment to different consumers, dentists and other businesses. He or she may also get involved with public health dentistry, by getting students in public schools or people in unfortunate places in the community educated with dental care and health. And being educated, by having been graduated as a dental assistant, he or she may instruct or teach in dental assistant courses offered by some education facilities.
