What Happens After I Complete Dental Assisting School?
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As you prepare to select a dental assistant school, it is only natural that you find yourself filled with curiosity about the future. “What will I learn in these dental assistant programs?” you may think. You may even discover yourself dwelling upon what will happen after you obtain your dental assistant degree. Put any apprehensions to bed, as your job prospects in dental assisting are expected to be “excellent” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They’ve projected that the need for dental assistants will increase a whopping 36 percent by the year 2018.
As you attend dental assistant college, you can expect to learn about dental anatomy and pathology, dental hygiene and preventative care, dental specialties, dental radiographic imaging, patient relations, communication and teamwork, even dental office management. These courses will provide you with the knowledge base you will need as you begin your real-world training on the job after graduation.
The first step for many, after graduating from dental assistant schools, is to take their certification or licensing tests. The Dental Assisting National Board has set the standards for becoming a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). Most states recognize this certification. The CDA exam is a three part multiple choice test covering general chairside, infection control and health and safety topics. You should consider taking the CDA exam as soon as possible after you complete your coursework, so the information you’ve learned is still fresh in your mind.
Once you’ve passed the CDA exam (with flying colors, of course), you can find a job in a solo dentist office, group dental office or even some hospitals. The best dental assisting programs prepare you for any of these job possibilities. As mentioned above, your job prospects are excellent. You should have a much easier time finding employment in your field than many other people, no matter what the economy.
Employment as a dental assistant can be rewarding and exciting. During a typical day you may:
interact with patients to help them feel more at ease before, during and after their procedures.
take the health history of new patients and possibly check their blood pressure.
teach patients proper flossing and brushing techniques.
assist the dentist during various treatment procedures.
provide patients with care instruction after certain dental procedures (such as root canals, fillings, etc.)
take and develop dental x-rays.
take impressions of patients’ teeth.
prepare and sterilize instruments.
take and confirm appointments.
communicate with vendors.
perform office management tasks on a personal computer.
Oral health is vital to the overall health of your future patients. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, true healthiness is not possible without oral health. Scientific studies are increasingly finding that oral health issues (such as plaque build-up and gum disease) can contribute to or worsen other health problems in the body. As a dental assistant, you can take pride in knowing that you are helping your patients stay healthy so they can enjoy their lives.
If you’re still interested in medical & dental assistant & technician schools, check out our other resources for additional information that may be of use to you in planning your education.
