If you are interested in making a career out of being a dental assistant, then you have made a very wise decision that can be a great learning experience, and very rewarding. Depending on what dentist office you are working in, will greatly impact the type of work that a dental assistant will be required to do.
Dental assistants work with dentists or hygienist, and they will undergo dental assistant schooling before they are able to apply for a job as a dental worker. To become a dental assistant, will require many skills and you will have to be able to adapt to many situations. There could be times where you have to stand or sit for several hours if a major surgery is going on, or you might have to be able to respond quick in the case of an emergency.
Sterilizing instruments used by the dentist or hygienist are some of the typical duties of a dental worker. Some other things that the assistant may due, is to record the patients information, such as health history and what not. In some cases if they are properly trained well they will also conduct in taking x-rays, also comforting patients and many other small duties, depending on how much the dentist has trust in you.
During routine check-ups and surgery the assistant will be handing the dentist or hygienist tools and instruments so that the process will go nice and smooth. Keeping up with the cleanliness of the office is also a duty that is carried out by an assistant.
Some other duties that a dental assistant may be required to carry out are answering phone calls, calling patients into the back, making appointments along with other booking duties. Some offices may hire employees just for this, while others will merge in the dental assistants to do some of the clerical duties. Having strong computer skills will not hurt to put on your dental assisting resume either, such as being an above average typer and knowing how to edit documents in programs such as Microsoft word.
A good reason to pursue a career as a dental assistant, is that you can keep educating yourself about dentistry. You could take classes part time, and you can even strive above and beyond to become a dental hygienist, which make a lot more money than a dental assistant does. You will have seen certain procedures done many times, and you can also ask questions to the dentist that you are working for to further your knowledge and get more dental assistant training, to the point one day you can actually become a dental hygienist, and that is where the big bucks come rolling in.
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