Today’s youth has a host of options to choose from when deciding their career path. One such option lies in the dentistry sector. You can make the most of some truly fantastic opportunities, high levels of competition and good pay packages by getting a job in the dental industry. Every family and individual requires good dental health, and by working as a dentist or a dental assistant, you can avail a host of attractive benefits along with a lucrative salary.
The dental assistant’s job
While dentists attend to the oral problems of patients, an assistant usually offers a helping hand to the dentist. You will not need the level of knowledge that a dentist possesses. In fact, you don’t have to know much about medicine to take on the job of a dental assistant. Basic education is more than enough to apply for such a position. Experience is one of the most crucial factors in a dental assistant’s job. You have the opportunity to learn while you are assisting the practitioner. While a few dentists prefer assistants with good qualifications, most of them focus on the way in which you conduct yourself.
The job of a dental assistant revolves around sterilising the equipment that the dentist and his patients use. You will likely have to offer help to the patients while the dentist is treating them. Care must be offered even after the completion of their treatment. Another part of a dental assistant’s duty is to maintain a record of patients. Handling official paperwork is also part of the job duties. Dental assistants are very valuable to the practitioners as they help in carrying out a lot of tasks on the dentist’s behalf. Handling payments and appointments is another task carried out by assistants.
Importance of a dental assistant’s job
Since you’re probably going to be the only permanent employee at a dentist’s clinic, you will have to record all the medical supplies. You must be efficient in handling all your duties responsibly as this will help the practitioner focus on his patients without worrying about all the other duties that keep his/her clinic running. Dental assistants play an important role in taking care of the patients. You will have to prepare them before they go in for treatment and ensure that all the equipment is sterilised before the dentist can lay his/her hands on them.
Earning potential
Dental problems have increased considerably over the years and this has resulted in a major boom of the dental industry. The future looks bright and job prospects are rising. According to statistics, an average dental assistant earns around $25,000 to $35,000 per annum. Having appropriate qualifications will do your career a world of good. Even if you don’t possess the degrees and certificates required to do the job, on-the-floor training will certainly develop you into a good dental assistant.