Dental Assistant

          Dental Assistant
Duties and Responsibilities: Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties, and often work chair-side as dentists examine and treat patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain their dental records. Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices, and also sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare trays of instruments for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care. Some dental assistant prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. Helps with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials. Dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform different clinical tasks.
Salary: $30,824-$38,397
Education: While some states do not require formal licensure, others do, meaning that paths to the workforce vary. It also means the work dental assistants do may vary. A dental assisting program can take anywhere from nine months to two years to complete, depending on whether it's a certificate, diploma or degree program.
Demand for this profession: At UEI, our Dental Assistant program can get you started in a great career where you will be an important part of the dental office. You’ll have the opportunity to handle many phases of a patient’s visit and even assist the dentist during procedures. You will also learn clinical, radiographic, and preventative dentistry procedures to prepare you for an entry-level dental assistant position.
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Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one why? Or why not?
I think I would not like to be one cause I would not feel like a real dentist just a assistant. I will still help a patient but just for a little while and then let the real dentist do the work so it's like I'm not doing nothing this is why I would not like to be one.