The career of a dental assistant is an extremely rewarding profession that allows one, with the proper education and training, to become successful in a field that improves the oral hygiene and health of others.
Dental assistants work closely with licensed dentist before, during, and after dentist are done with their works. Their duties vary from multiple tasks such as seating patients, charting, and mixing dental material. A Dental Assistant is a vital member of the dental healthcare team. They are oral health care professions trained to provide supportive procedures to the dentist and the patient. (Adaa.org)
Dentistry is one of the oldest known medical professions. It started before 200 B.C when people actually believed that tooth decay was caused by worms. (Visual.ly) The Sumerians blamed tooth worms to be the cause of any dental issue. They believed worms were drilling holes in teeth and hiding inside a person’s mouth. The idea that a worm could travel through one mouth and cause so much dental pain lasted until the 1970s. In Ancient Greece, Aristotle and Hippocrates wrote a few stories about treating decayed teeth and pulling them out to keep the pain away. (Visual.ly) In the late 17th and 19th century, sometime between 1650 and 1870, the man behind the science project was Pierre Fauchard. He was a French dentist and was called the “Father of Modern Dentistry". (Explorehealthcareers.org)
In 1728, Pierre Fauchard, was well known for publishing a book called, "The Natural History of The Human Teeth". In today’s society dental persons still use many of the procedures that was used during the 17th century. For example, Pierre Fauchard was the man who came up with the process of dental fillings; he also proved that acid come from...
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... and/or technical institutes. To become certified one must past a certification test that is offered by the DANB. The starting out pay is average and one is able to make a living off of it. Being a DA one will receive many benefits and will also receive an insurance. It is very important to be away of the hazards that one may face by working in a dental office. There is also a supply and demand issue for dental assistants. It is projected that in the next few years’ dental office will open many jobs to dental assistants.
The career of a dental assistant is very rewarding profession that with the right education you can make a great life for yourself and family. It does not require a lot of time for education. One is also able to work part time that helps with flexibility that helps one work another job. Working in this career can cause one to become very successful!
Being a dental assistant can be very challenging when it comes to posture and sitting properly. There are several musculoskeletal disorders that can affect your job in the long run. Some so severe you may have to have surgery!! I don’t think we want that.
Out of all the careers in the world, a dental hygienist probably has one of the most interesting and flexible jobs. Not only is this career interesting and flexible, but it is also very helpful towards others and usually pays pretty well too. Many people become dental hygienists because of the easy education requirements and high demand for their jobs. These days, dental hygienists are more respected and being hired more rapidly due to the fact that more and more people are keeping and taking better care of their teeth. They also say that at the end of the day they feel accomplished in knowing that they helped improved their patient’s health, even if only in the slightest way (“Interview with a Professional”).
Having shadowed a dental hygienist prior to that of a dental assistant I didn’t know what to expect their job to be. Although I did assume a dental assistant’s job consisted of handing instruments to the doctor during the various procedures so I was surprised to see just how many responsibilities they have. Each dental clinic has different expectations of what they require their dental assistant to do in my shadowing experience they were responsible for: preparing the room prior to the patients arrival, greeting the patient upon arrival and inviting them into the operation room, confirming dental history with the patient, briefing them on the procedure they are about to have and what to expect, answering the clients questions to the best of their abilities, assisting the doctor in the procedure and aiding with any tasks required of you, when the patient is ready to leave helping them to look presentable and explaining what to expect after that kind of procedure, updating and verifying dental records, and sanitizing and sterilization of the room and all instruments after departure of
The variety of dental instruments that have been invented since the beginning of basic dentistry till modern times is enormous. Dentistry has been around since the Ancient Egyptians, the firsts known dentist was Hesy-Re, who has inscribed on one of his tomb walls “the greatest of those who deal with teeth”. Onward from Hesy-Re, the focus on dental health became a concern, however, it was not till about the end of the 1700’s that dentistry was regarded as true profession. Dentistry during the American Civil War was not the initial interest of the time, the focus was of course on the injured men who would come off the battle field. When one thinks of Civil War medicine they may tend to think of amputations and treating bullet wounds. However,
Dental assistants with advanced certification or training will likely have the best job prospects.” (“Dental Assistants”). This job comes with good benefits and also a good salary. Dental assistants that have the best certification get the best spots in the workplace which calls for better benefits.
Every day in the life of a dental assistant is an exciting one because of the wide variety of people you meet and the tasks that are performed. Not to mention knowing that you are contributing to helping people maintain their health by maintaining their teeth and gums.
In most states, a high school diploma is the only educational requirement for dental assistants because the employer will give the worker on-the-job training. On-the-job training is sometimes required for employees who have already graduated from an accredited college and earned a degree in dental assisting. Some states require that you become licensed or registered, that you complete an accredited program at a college and that you take and pass an examination. Several states even require that you continue your education to maintain your licensure.
As we grow up, we are often asked what we want to be. Many people say careers such as a doctor or an actor. When I grow up, I want to be a dental hygienist. When I tell people this they often think i’m crazy for wanting to “work in someone’s mouth”. Dental hygiene is appealing to me. It is a big part of personal hygiene and keeping yourself healthy. One of the first things a person notices about you is your smile and I want to help people perfect theirs. I know that being a dental hygienist will not be the easiest thing in the world but there are some benefits. You don’t have to work full time if you don’t want to. Also as stated by Jenny Lewellen, “Overtime is not expected” (Lewellen). Hygienists also get a good salary. “The median annual wage for
You have found a vacancy for a Dental Assistant and you know you are the perfect candidate, but how do you demonstrate this in an interview? A dental assistant is an important position in all practices. The ability to liaise with patients, prepare dental equipment and complete administration duties with ease are essential.
Medical assisting is one of the nation's fastest growing careers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical assistants perform a vast number of daily duties administrative and some clinical tasks. Medical Assistant are the glue that keeps the various healthcare facility running smoothly. There will be a time when a medical assistant may have to answer the telephone, greet patients, fill out medical records and update them as needed, schedule appointments and handle correspondence and billing.
As a future dental hygienist, I want to be able to help educate people about dental hygiene, prevent cancers and help rural communities overcome oral diseases and cancers. Dental Hygienist usually work in dentist office's, some of the responsibilities of a dental hygienist are removing tarter, stains and plaque from teeth, they take dental x-rays and access patient oral health and report findings to the dentist.
The education requirements vary depending where you are, but typically it vary from a high school diploma to the completion of a postsecondary training program. There are no formal education requirements for entering this career and some high school students have even went from their diploma straight to on-the-job training. Although, postsecondary dental assisting programs offer more comprehensive career training. Dental assisting programs are typically 1-year diploma or certificate programs that tend to focus more on technical training through classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction. Some community colleges also offer 2-year associate's degree programs which combine general education, technical training, and more extensive clinical practicums. Licensure and/or certification might be required by some states. Some states allow dental assistants to perform all duties assigned by a dentist but in other states they must obtain licensure or registration to perform certain duties. Obtaining the licensure vary in states as well. Some may include completing an accredited postsecondary program or may have to pass a written or practical exam, which could be required. Most dental assistants maintain licensure by earning continuing education at state-specified intervals. To get the certification, The Dental Assisting National Board offers the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA®) certification which was
The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. Obviously, they assist the dentist during
Becoming a dentist begins with achievement of a science-related scholar degree program. Ambitious dentists then attend dental school to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Alumni of dental programs are obligatory to earn state licensure to run-through in the profession. State dental boards need dentists to complete a identified number of current education credits or hours to continue licensure. Some certifying boards want a lowest number of these credits to focus on a exact subject, such as life support or pain running. Depending on the state, dentists may be acceptable to earn a partial number of credits through online courses. States may also allow dentists to earn credits by attending state-approved meetings and sessions. The majorities of dentists work as sole proprietors, who must hire, train and oversee staff. In addition to 8 years of education, there are other requirements to become a dentist. Colleges that offer the education a
Choosing a particular profession is one of the most important decisions that we take in our life. .In my opinion, I would like to focus on a career that is enjoyable, productive, creative and simultaneously allows you to work for the betterment of humanity. According to me, one of the most productive and fulfilling career that provides you various opportunities to help and promote humanity is that of a dentist. Dentistry gains magnificent attention in last some decades and so a huge percentage of people around the world and from US are devoting their life to this noble profession. Becoming a dentist requires a lot of hard work dedication but the factor that motivates you to face these difficulties is the actual pleasure gained when you are able to change someone’s life by creating a beautiful and healthy smile for them and the joy of which could not be expressed.