Dental Assistant
A dental assistant is a trained professional who has the ability to assist a DDS (Doctor of Dental Science) in some capacity or another. Dental assistants range from office workers who take care of things like insurance paperwork and filing to dental laboratory assistants who work making moldings and other orthodontic items. How much money you make and what kind of education and certification you need will be determined by which dental assistant field you choose to pursue.
A dental hygienist career is one that is acquired by an individual that is properly educated via a four year program at an accredited school. The school that a potential dental hygienist attends must be one that is offering an American Dental Association Accredited Dental Program; further, in many states, when attempting to enroll into such a school, the student will find that they face a great deal of competition. Once the program is completed, the dental hygienist is required to take an examination to receive his or her license to work as a dental hygienist. The courses a dental hygienist student will be expected to complete during the process of his or her educational career include courses that involve the study of human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, psychology, microbiology, communication courses, mathematic courses and more.
When the appropriate accredited program is completed, the dental hygienist is required to take examinations to receive his or her license to work as a dental hygienist; the latter examinations include both clinical board and written exams. Once the registered or licensed dental hygienist enters into the work force he or she soon discovers that they have entered into a rewarding career: one where there are numerous job opportunities. The job outlook for the educated and licensed dental hygienist remains extraordinary, and it becomes relatively easy for the dental hygienist to locate either a full or part-time job.
One of the main differences between a dental hygienist and a dental assistant is that a dental hygienist is not necessarily supervised by a dentist in a dentist office. In fact, a dental hygienist can, in some states, open up a practice on their own, while a dentist assistant must remain under the careful supervision of a qualified dentist. Dental assistants are limited in their function when the job is compared to that of the trained and licensed dental hygienist. Dental assistants can sterilize dental equipment and instruments; he or she can get any equipment prepared for the dental hygienist or dentist, and he or she typically handles much of the paperwork associated with the patients of a dental practice. Dental assistants are allowed to communicate with patients to ensure the patient’s comfort, and they often provide the dentist with the implements necessary to complete various procedures.
Another difference between the dental hygienist and the dental assistant is the amount of training required to fulfill the two very different positions. While the dental hygienist must endure many years of training in an accredit program and gain appropriate licensure, the dental assistant can receive hands on training on the job. There are however, training courses specifically created for those individuals interested in the dental assistant career – the dental assistant programs are about a year in length to complete and give the individual seeking a dental assistant career an added edge in terms of job competition.
In addition to the above mentioned job requirements, the dental assistant can perform a number of functions in the dental office. Along with the preparation of necessary materials, dental assistants are limited by law in terms of the tasks they can perform. First, dental assistants are permitted to assist with regard to creating restorations and impressions; a dental assistant can help get a patient’s x-rays and can further assist in the processing of such x-rays. A dental assistant is also qualified to properly apply topical anesthetics, they can remove sutures and in some states within the United States, the dental assistant is permitted to perform coronal polishing, but only if the assistant has be properly trained to do so.
The dental assistant is trained in the area of creating temporary crowns, and he or she is also responsible for the appropriate care of a patient’s removable mouth appliance. Along with all of the latter duties, the dental assistant will also be trained in dealing with office paperwork; he or she may be responsible for dealing with patient’s and appointment making tasks; and in some instances, the billing of patient treatment is also handled by the dental assistant instead of bills being outsourced to a special billing agency.
While it is not absolutely necessary for a dental assistant to attend a program, it is still advised. A dental assistant can receive training from a dentist, but the dental assistant that has additional program training may be able to get a position faster than the individual that has no formal training from a school. If the individual decides to enter into a dental assistant program the individual will take courses in communication, business, and courses related to the dental sciences.
A typical dental assistant program will offer courses that include the study of dental science, dental anatomy, dental materials and equipment, and oral radiology. In addition, students will need to learn what is expected of the dental assistant and may do so in a course that explores the principles of dental assisting. An English Composition course may be expected of the dental assistant student as well as a course in oral communication. The dental assistant student will also partake in clinics to get hands on experience. The student looking for a dental assistant career will want to enter a program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and a program takes approximately a year to complete if the student studies full time.
If a student decides that he or she wants to enroll in a dental assistant training program the individual will need to meet the criteria of enrollment set forth by the school. In order to enroll the student must have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma. The school will expect the student to fill out the appropriate application as completely as possible, and the student may need to meet with a counselor before enrollment commences. In addition, some schools demand that a background check is performed on enrolling students, and in some instances, a criminal background check is required since dental assistants work so closely with the public.
Some of the dental assistant training programs require that the student have certain typing abilities – if the student is lacking they may be required to take a prerequisite course in typing since typing is often the office function of a dental assistant. In addition to enrollment requirements the dental assistant student faces graduation requirements in order to receive a dental assistant diploma. Depending upon the school, the dental assistant student may be required to maintain a certain grade point average. All of the required classes will need to be completed successfully if the student is to receive credit and earn a diploma.
For some individuals it seems easier to enroll in a dental assistant program than to learn via a dentist hands on. In other instances there are people that simply prefer to get into the aspects of the job as quickly as possible and to learn as they go along. What is nice about the latter option is that the individual is being paid while they learn a skill and this is not necessarily so for the fulltime enrolled dental assistant student.
Whether one gets enrolled into a dental program and successfully completes the program or one gets on the job training, the dental assistant will need to find a dentist to work with that they are comfortable with. In all instances, the dental assistant is subject to the dentist he or she is working for and the dentist maintains supervision over the dental assistant at all times. It may take the dental assistant some time to adjust to the particular ways a dentist may do things, and they will need considerable time to become comfortable with the tasks of the job. Finally, a dental assistant’s job is never ending in terms of education – as times change, the dental assistant may have to take additional courses or get additional training to keep up to date and informed about various job functions.
Depending on the state that one resides in, the dental assistant may or may not be required to complete certain exams in order to take on a dental assistant career. Usually, if a state demands registration and/or licensure, such endeavors can be fulfilled via the dental assistant programs offered within the state that has set such demands. In contrast, the states that do not demand registration of the dental assistant may demand that the dental assistant job seeker fulfill other requirements like special courses offered to the potential assistant.
As seen above, every state varies in terms of dental assistant restrictions and expectancy. If the dental assistant is to perform certain functions they must fulfill whatever guidelines are set before them via the law, be it certification, registration, additional class work, continuing education or otherwise. Further, in thirty out of the fifty states in the United States, the dental assistant must take a Radiation Health and Safety Examination which is regulated by the Dental Assisting National Board if they are to be able to take x-rays on the job.
Believe it or not there are many titles that define the dental assistant. Different states have different job titles for the same position and a dental office may refer to their dental assistants by an entirely different name. In general, the term dental assistant is interchangeable with terms like registered dental assistant, graduate dental assistant, formerly trained dental assistant, certified dental assistant, registered restorative dental assistant, dental auxiliary, dental assistant 1, Basic qualified personnel, on the job trained dental assistant, unregistered dental assistant, dental assistant trainee, and dental assistant with limited permit. What’s more, the latter titles are not recognized in every state.
Dental assistants that have taken additional courses or that have become specially certified for certain job functions hold different job titles. The dental assistant qualified for what is referred to as expanded duties may hold the job title of advanced dental assistant, dental assistant 2, registered dental assistant with expanded duties, dental assistant with state certification in expanded functions, and licensed expanded function dental auxiliary. The expanded functions that a dental assistant can train for differ from state to state. In the state of Arkansas, California, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming the dental assistant can become trained to monitor nitrous oxide and sedation. In thirteen states, the dental assistant can be certified for coronal polishing, and in New Hampshire the dental assistant can become certified to perform teeth whitening procedures.
The salary of the dental assistant varies greatly when compared to that average salary of the dental hygienist. At the onset of the dental assistant the assistant may make anywhere from 11 to 12 dollars an hour. In a few years time, the salary may increase to 13-14 dollars an hour, and dental assistant salaries tend to cap at around 17 to 18 dollars an hour. Some dentists may offer dental assistant benefits in addition to the salary he or she receives. Further, for the dental assistant that is looking to climb the latter of success, there are some dentists that will offer tuition reimbursement opportunities for those seeking to pursue continuing education.
In an effort to truly contrast the difference between the dental hygienist and the dental assistant, it should be duly noted that the dental hygienist makes considerably more than a dental assist. The first year, a dental hygienist may begin with 25 dollars an hour and the ceiling salary can be as much as 32 dollars an hour or more, often times with benefits.