Have you always loved helping people take care of their teeth but you have never considered a career in dentistry? If so, you should think twice because dentists are in great demand. The United States has one of the highest ratios of people without dental insurance compared to other countries. And those who have coverage are very satisfied with it. This article is designed to help you decide if dental assisting is right for you.
Dental Assistants or dental hygienists perform many of the same tasks daily, including taking and developing X-Rays and educating patients on proper dental care. Dentists can choose to be an Oral Surgeon, a Public Health specialist, or even a Radiology Technician. The list of duties that dental assistants carry out could go on indefinitely. It is important that you obtain your degree through an accredited Dental Assistant School Dallas TX.
One of the skills that dental assistants are required to master is the skill of coronal polishing. In the field of dentistry, this is the procedure of polishing teeth with carbamide peroxide. This is also known as “shining”. In other words, a dental assistant would apply the carbamide peroxide gel on the patient’s tooth. After applying the gel, they clean and polish the tooth making sure that the coating remains intact.
If you are currently looking for work, a few options open to you include private dentist offices, dental clinics, and community colleges. Each option has its benefits and disadvantages. For example, most private practices have established relationships with local hospitals. This means that most dental assistants will receive lower wages than their coworkers in community colleges. The flip side to the coin is that dental assistant education at community colleges leaves little room for specialization.
The alternative is to join a program at a dental assistant school. These programs are usually held at local universities or community colleges. Students in these programs are given the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree as quickly as possible. Students also learn the practical skills that are necessary to begin a career in this industry as soon as they complete their coursework. Although the salary isn’t as high as it would be at a local practice, the advantage of being able to quickly get your associate degree completed allows students to pursue a career that may not have been possible otherwise.
Dental assistant schools are also excellent ways to gain certification. Students can complete the state certification exam for dental assistants (DAs) in as little as two months. Students can earn both the national and state certification within this time period. The national certification exam is available at all branches of the U.S. Department of Education. The state certification exam can be taken in most state branches once a student has met the prerequisites.
By attending a dental assistant school students can ensure that they will be eligible for higher dental assistant salaries when they seek employment after graduation. There are many benefits to be had by choosing to continue one’s studies after high school. A degree shows that a student is ready for a career in this field and shows potential employers that a student has the knowledge needed to perform the duties of their job. Many dentists look for candidates with these qualifications when they begin the hiring process.
Dentists looking for dental assistants can also find great success at a Howard Healthcare Academy. The academy offers a number of courses, some of which are accredited and some of which aren’t. Some of the courses offered at the Howard Healthcare Academy are focused on practical matters such as the diagnosis and treatment of dental disorders. Others are focused on theories of dentistry and oral health. Regardless of the coursework students take, they will have the opportunity to work in an environment that is highly regarded within the dental profession.