A career as a Dental Assistant will open many doors of
opportunity. Dental Assistants will be among the highest growing occupations
from now until 2012. This is because people are starting to take a better
interest in their oral health. Technological advances have led many individuals
to the dentist office for cosmetic dental procedures rather than just cleanings
and major dental work. Also, people are living longer, so their teeth need more
care to stay healthy throughout their life.
The most common place of employment to find Dental
Assistants is in the dental office. Here they provide a variety of services.
They often help to comfort scared patients prior to procedures as well as give
them follow up care at the end of the appointment. Dental Assistants clean the
tools used as well as make sure each work unit has the necessary tools and
equipment ready for the next patient’s procedures.
Pixabay Gallery
Dental Assistants in the dental office work very closely
with Dentists and Hygienists. They often sit in on all procedures, handing
staff the necessary tools. Dentist offices are generally small so Dental
Assistants often help with lab work. This includes making molds of teeth for
caps, bridges, and other dental work. They may also be required to assist with
the taking of X-rays.
A common place for Dental Assistants to be employed is in
prisons. With more and more prisons being built all over the Nation, DentalAssistants are in great demand for Federal, State, and privately owned prisons.
Working as a dental assistant in a prison setting requires more caution that in
a regular dental office.
All Nursing Assistants need to be aware of the risk of
communicable diseases that are transmitted via saliva and blood. However, the
rate of these diseases, especially HIV, is much higher with a prison population
than the general public. Also, some inmates might try to attack by biting.
Nursing Assistants in a prison setting need to be alert, and
never let down their guard. Inmates often look for any opportunity to escape or
obtain weapons. They can use a dental tool as a weapon against you, other
staff, or other inmates. It is very important that you keep very close track of
all dental tools in a prison setting. Never leave a tool in the reach of an
inmate for even a moment. If you discover a tool is missing, immediately notify
your supervisor and follow the procedures outlined in the prison policy.
For those Dental Assistants wanting to help the lower income
populations, securing employment in a Child Development Center, Head Start, or
Migrant program is an excellent way of giving back to the community. Often,
these populations can’t afford dental care and would go without it if the
services weren’t offered as part of a government program. Employment in these
types of agencies as a Dental Assistant often pays less than other employment
opportunities in the field. However, many Dental Assistants make the choice to
help those in need rather than earn more money.
There are many opportunities to work as a Dental Assistant
for agencies who serve the disabled. Often, Dental Assistants are afraid to
work with such a population. However, once you feel comfortable with disabled
people and their disabilities, you will be able to provide proper care to those
who are in need, regardless of their mental capacity or physical appearance.
A career as a Dental Assistant offers you many areas of
employment including dental offices, prisons, low income programs, and for
facilities who serve the disabled. The ability to choose the type of
environment you want to use your Dental Assistant skills in makes the field
even more inviting. If you are not sure if a particular type of agency is a
good fit for you, talk to them. Ask if you can shadow another Dental Assistant
who works there for a few days. This should give you plenty of exposure to the
activities that take place in that agency.
Areas of Employment for Dental Assistants - Innakaghaitsa.com