What can a Dental Assistant degree prepare you for?
Dental assistants offer help to dentists by providing patient care as well as engaging in office and laboratory duties. They often work chair side as dentists examine and treat patients. Dental assistants prepare materials for impressions and restorations. They take and process dental x rays.
- Making patients comfortable throughout their procedure
- Preparing patients for treatment
- Obtaining and checking dental records
- Providing instruments and materials to dentists
- Sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and equipment
Major Employers of Dental Assistants
The vast majority of dental assistants work in dentist's offices (solo and group practices). Other "traditional" practice areas may include clinics, hospital dental clinics, as well as dental school clinics. According to the ADA, other career opportunities include:
- Insurance companies to process dental claims
- Teaching in schools which may require an associate or baccalaureate college degree
- Sales of dental products
Dental Assisting job outlook
Dental Assistant is predicted by the US Labor Bureau to be one of the fastest-growing occupations over the next decade. Employment is expected to increase by about 29% in the next decade, adding about 81,200 new jobs.
Demand in the field is being caused by greater focus on preventative dental care, as well as greater use of assistants by younger dentists. Growth is also fueled by an increasing population and rapid expansion of the entire health care industry.
Student Testimonial
The school at Dr. Loken’s is a great program. I liked that it was only on Saturdays. The material was easy to understand and memorize. The teachers were very informative, helpful and ready to answer any questions that I had to throw at them. Being able to do hands on was very helpful for me because that’s how I learn best! There wasn’t anything that I can remember that I disliked. – Kristina R.