Are you the type of person that easily makes people as comfortable as possible?  Do you also have an interest in the dentistry field? You might consider becoming a medical dental assistant technician. Dental assistants work closely with dentists and perform a diverse amount of patient care, office, and laboratory duties.  They are an integral part of the oral health of millions. Dental assistants are like a dentist's second pair of hands; they must be reliable, work well with others, and have agile manual abilities.

While many dental assistants learn their skills on the job, an increasing number of individuals are being trained in dental assistance schools. There are many paths to becoming a dental assistant. Programs in dental assistance are offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, technical institutes, and even the Armed Forces. In 2006, the Commission on Dental Accreditation approved 269 dental assistance training programs.

Most dental assistance training programs take just one year, or even less, to complete.  The only requirements for entrance into a dental assistance school are a high school diploma or its equivalent, and in some cases, science or computer courses taken in high school. An aspiring dental assistant who enters into a dental assistance school will experience classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental assistance skills. One year programs lead to a certificate or a diploma.  Those who enter into a two-year program at a community or junior college will earn an Associate's Degree. Four to six month training courses in dental assistance are also offered by a number of private vocational schools, but they are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Those that have completed a program at a dental assistant school will then embark on a period of training on-the-job.  Each dentist has their own ways of doing things, and an assistant must become comfortable with the dentist's style so that their work relationship will be productive and flow nicely.  Because dental assistants perform many office duties, their on-the-job training will also include office-specific details like where certain files are stored.

Let's Get to Work
A day in the life of a dental assistant is full of many interesting tasks.  Much of their work is patient oriented.  Dental assistants obtain patients' dental records, make them comfortable in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, keep their mouths dry and free from obstruction during procedures, and instruct them on postoperative and general oral health care. Dental assistants may also prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x-rays, apply topical anesthetics and cavity-preventive agents, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on teeth.

Laboratory duties like making casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, cleaning and polishing removable appliances, and making temporary crowns are common work for dental assistants.  The office aspect of the job includes scheduling and confirming appointments, receiving patients, keeping treatment records, handling billing and payment, and ordering supplies.

Sit Back and Relax
The job outlook for a medical dental assistant is exceptional! Dental assistant employment opportunities are expected to increase by twenty-nine percent over the 2006-2016 decade.  Dental assistants are one of the fastest growing occupations.

The median hourly earnings of a dental assistant in May 2006 were $14.53.  Some were even earning over $20 an hour!  Not to mention, if you wish to further your education as a dental assistant, 87 percent of dentists offer reimbursement for your ambition.

If you're ready to make a fresh start in the dentistry field, start looking at medical dental assistant technician schools today!