Today, more people are enrolling in dental assistant training programs than ever. What are dental assistants? They're professional who, under dentists' supervision, provide dental care to patients. Some of the duties they perform are: cleaning and disinfecting dental equipment, assisting in dental exams, and cleaning the teeth of patients. They may also perform clerical duties such as answering the phone and scheduling exams.
Deciding to become a dental assistant has a number of benefits. An extremely flexible work schedule is one of the benefits. Most people work between 35 and 40 hours a week with weekends off. Another one of the benefits of being a dental assistant is great pay. The average salary for dental assistants is approximately $32,000 per year, but many people are making above $46,000 per year. The job prospects for dental assistants are also predicted to be bright. According to the Occupational Standard Handbook, this field is expected to grow by 36 percent from 2011-2018.
In comparison to other medical professions, the dental assistant training isn't as extensive. Individuals who want to enroll in a dental assistant training program must have a high school diploma or GED. High school students interested in becoming dental assistants are urged to take chemistry, biology, and algebra courses. These courses will prepare them for the rigors of a dental assisting program. It's also important to be comfortable working with people.
Technical or community colleges usually offer dental assistant programs. The programs have clinical and classroom components. The classroom portion teaches students the basics of dental assisting and the clinical portion allows students to apply the skills that they learned in the classroom. Students are required to successfully complete both portions before they graduate.
Upon successful completion of the training, students are awarded either a diploma or a certificate. On-the-job training is allowed for those students who already have experience in dentistry. Some of the programs in dental assisting take between 4 and 6 months to completed.
A good number of dental assistant training student go on to earn an associate degree. With advanced education and training, they have the chance to get hired as dental office managers and instructors at schools offering dental assisting programs. Moreover, they;ve got better job prospects and they can earn a high annual salary.
In the last few years, the enrollment in dental assistant training programs has gone up significantly. Many want a career in the dentistry field, while others are wanting to have a new career. No matter the reason for choosing to enroll in a program, though, people who complete training in dental assisting will have an incredibly rewarding career.
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