Where Can I Find Dental Assistant Training Near Me?

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Are you interested in a job in the medical field that is fast-paced and far from boring? Then a dental assistant may be just the position you’re looking for. No two days are ever the same in a dental office, and you’ll have the opportunity to teach others about the importance of oral health.

Even better? The Dental Assistant field is growing! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is expected to increase much faster than the average through 2028. Here’s where dental assistant training might take you:

Where You Might Work as a Dental Assistant

As a Dental Assistant, you can work in a variety of settings, but you’ll probably work in either a single, private practice or a group, clinical dental practice. A private practice tends to have a smaller staff and usually has a loyal group of patients. Since the dentist owns the practice, they have more say in how the business is run.

A group practice, on the other hand, tends to have a larger staff and often sees clients on a walk-in basis, although appointments are also scheduled. They may have multiple locations and have corporate rules and regulations. Both are great places to look for an entry-level job, or to complete an externship, which gives you temporary, hands-on experience while learning the basics of a profession. Here are a few other places where you might work as a dental assistant:

  • Hospital dental clinics
  • Dental school clinics
  • Public health facilities
  • Insurance companies

What Do You Do as a Dental Assistant?

You would be the dentist’s main aide. In this role, you’ll take on many duties including patient care, record keeping, and tool management. You’ll work with patients to schedule appointments, and to prepare them for an exam or surgery. This may include taking blood pressure and other vital signs, and making sure the patients are comfortable. You’ll also update and maintain medical records as well as sterilize dental tools and hand them to the dentist as they work on patients. Here are a few other duties you might also be responsible for:

  • Processing X-rays
  • Drying patients’ mouths
  • Educating patients on proper oral hygiene
  • Preparing teeth for bonding
  • Assisting with local anesthesia

The best place to start your training is through a dental assisting program. At Charter College, we offer a Certificate in Dental Assisting program in Canyon Country, Lancaster, Oxnard, Fife, Pasco, and Vancouver that will provide you with basic training in front office procedures as well as instruction in chair-side assisting. You’ll also get to complete a 180-hour externship at a local dental office. Does this sound like the career for you? Don’t wait! Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to lean more now.