Dental assisting is an excellent option if you’re considering a career change. It’s not only a gratifying career, but it also provides opportunities to advance into other healthcare roles.
Dental assisting is a great career choice if you’re looking for work-life balance. In addition, most dental clinics are serene and professional environments that allow for an ideal work environment.
Hands-on Training
In a dental assistant program of study, students get hands-on training through in-class instruction, hands-on labs, and externship experiences. They also take classes like dental pharmacology, dental materials, and infection control procedures.
The clinical side of dental assisting involves taking X-rays, preparing patients for treatment, and maintaining a sterile environment. Those skills are invaluable to patients and dentists alike.
The administrative side of the dental assisting field delves into scheduling appointments, managing patient records, and processing insurance claims. These auxiliary tasks are essential to the operation of dental practices and can open doors for future advancement. Dental assistants can work in various settings, including private practices, physicians’ offices, and even governmental roles. This flexibility makes a career in dental assisting a sound choice. The right school can prepare you for a fulfilling and rewarding healthcare profession that can last a lifetime.
Extensive Coursework
Many dental assisting students have full-time jobs, families, and other commitments. That’s why accelerated programs offer flexible class times and on-site clinic training so you can complete classroom work at your own pace. The program also allows you to graduate quickly, which can help you meet your career goals more quickly.
Dental assistants must be trained in various subjects to support dentists and patients. In most programs, you’ll take classes on dental pharmacology, dentistry, and office administration. You’ll also learn about sterile environments and infection control, a crucial element of a dental assistant’s job.
Other coursework might include dental radiology, therapeutic and impression materials preparation, and dental laboratory procedures. You’ll also take a course on modern dental materials’ nature, qualities, and composition. This helps you understand how different materials react in the mouth and how they’re used to create the final dental prosthetics.
Access to Resources
Dental assisting school locations provide a much smaller classroom environment than a university setting. This allows instructors to spend more time with students and provide them with individualized support. They can take the time to explain complex subjects and teach them in a way that makes sense for each student.
Most dental assisting schools offer a program for just under a year, making it a quick and affordable option for those who want to change careers. This is especially true for accelerated programs, where a certificate is awarded upon graduation.
Another benefit is that job security is relatively high for a career choice in healthcare. Most clinics have reasonable business hours and low-risk environments, making it easier for a person to enjoy the work-life balance they desire. Many DAs receive further training and become lab technicians, hygienists, or dentists, opening up more growth opportunities within the industry.
Career Opportunities
Aside from working as a dental assistant, graduates can pursue other roles in the healthcare field. For example, if you are interested in becoming a dentist or a dental hygienist, the experience you obtain through a dental assisting program can prepare you for these positions.
In addition, a career in dentistry can provide you with more job security than other industries.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.