Dental Assistant Job: An Overview
Dental assistants enhance the efficiency of any dental care team. Dental assistants perform a range of different tasks, including
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- assisting the dentist with intra-oral dental procedures
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- communicating with patients and making them feel comfortable during their visits
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- processing and sterilizing dental instruments and equipment
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- exposing and processing x-rays
- helping to manage the front office of the dental practice
The job outlook for dental assistants is very strong, with employment of dental assistants expected to grow 25% until 2022.
Dental assistants tend to have very flexible schedules; some work full-time, while others work part-time, and some divide their time amongst different practices.
Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists: What’s the Difference?
The biggest difference between dental hygienists and dental assistants is that dental hygienists can work individually with a patient, while dental assistants help the dentist when he or she is working with a patient.
Dental hygienists must receive degrees through a community college, technical college, or dental school or university, and then take licensure examinations. Requirements for dental assistants vary from state to state–some states do not have formal education requirements, while others require graduation from an accredited dental assistant school and passing of a state exam. In order to operate radiology equipment in NJ, dental assistants must meet certain radiography requirements. Advantage Career Institute offers a New-Jersey approved Radiography program at our NJ dental assistant school.
Dental Assistants: Necessary Skills & Knowledge
Since dental assistants are often given the responsibility of administering and developing x-rays, dental assistants must have a thorough background in Dental Radiology. For more information about ACI’s radiology courses, click here.
Dental assistants work with many different people, from dentists and dental hygienists, to patients and insurers. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are necessary to ensure that patients feel comfortable, and all office operations run smoothly.
A dental assistant must be neat, organized, and detail-oriented when assisting chairside, working in the office, and doing lab work.
Enroll in Dental Assistant School at ACI in NJ
Advantage Career Institute, located in Eatontown, NJ, is one of the state’s top dental assistant schools. If you live in NJ and think that a career in a dental office could be right for you, visit our Dental Assistant with Radiology page to find out more about our dental program courses, call us at 723-440-4110 or contact us online to learn more.
