What Are the Benefits of Being a Dental Assistant?

Great Careers Start Here

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If you want a job where your skills are needed and appreciated and people smile at you all day long, choosing to become a Dental Assistant may be a good path to take. You’ll be a huge help to dentists and their practice, and you can also make a real difference in the lives of your patients.

As a Dental Assistant, You Help Others

The dentist’s office is often the last place people want to visit. Even for well visits, many patients get nervous. Add the sound of a drill and the possibility of needing dental work, and you have a lot of anxious people looking for a friendly face. That’s you! You get to ease a patient’s worries and help them feel relaxed and ready for what’s to come. You will often be the first person they encounter when they come into the office so you can help set the tone for the whole visit. Go over the steps of the exam or procedure so they know what to expect and answer any questions that might cause them needless worry. And be their connection to the dentist, communicating their anxieties so that’s one less thing they have to worry about.

You’re Part of a Confidence-Building Team

Nothing wipes away a smile faster than a missing tooth, pain, or tooth decay. Dental imperfections can make your patients feel self-conscious, but your work can help restore their smiles. You’ll not only assist the dentist during the procedure; you’ll also educate your patients on proper dental hygiene so they can maintain their oral health long after they leave the dental office. You’ll feel good when you see your patients walk out with big smiles and a new sense of confidence.

Your Job as a Dental Assistant Is Interesting

Whether it’s helping with oral surgery or assisting in routine checkups, there’s a lot that’s interesting about dental care. For example, did you know that tooth enamel is the hardest part of your entire body? Or that teeth are the only part of the body that don’t have a way to heal themselves? That’s why you need to go to the dentist. And so do your patients!

Dental Assistants Perform a Variety of Duties

If you like to keep busy, you’ll enjoy the fast pace of dental assisting. You’ll work on both the clinical and administrative sides of the office to keep things running smoothly. On the clinical side, you’ll prepare exam rooms for patients, clean and sterilize tools and equipment, and hand tools to the dentist during a procedure. On the administrative side, you’ll greet patients and help them fill out paperwork, answer phone calls and emails, and order office and medical supplies when you run low. You’ll always have something to do!

As a Dental Assistant, You’re Also Part Teacher

One special duty you’ll have is to educate patients on oral health. You’ll show them how to properly brush and floss their teeth, and you’ll provide instructions on how to care for their mouth following surgery. You’ll also educate them on the importance of good oral hygiene. For example, you might let them know that dentists can often spot more serious diseases just by checking out what’s going on in their mouths. How amazing is that?

You’ll Always Have Something New to Learn

You’ll not only be a teacher, but a lifelong student as well. Like any medical profession, the field of dentistry evolves over time. As new information on oral health is discovered and new treatments and techniques are developed, you’ll update your skills and knowledge with the latest information. That way, you’ll always be able to provide the best care to your patients.

If you’re ready to learn the foundational knowledge and skills to start your career as a dental assistant, contact Charter College today. We offer a Certificate in Dental Assisting that will provide you with hands-on training in clinical and administrative duties as well as chair-side procedures. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.