Why Dental Assisting? Growth
The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects this career to grow 11% from 2020 to 2028 (which is much faster than the average for all occupations) due to the increasing aging population.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
In 2019 the median pay in the US was $19.27/hour or about $40,080/year. This varies and can range from $15.00/ hr to $24/ hr depending on location, expertise, and skill.
FLEXIBILITY & FREEDOM
Dentistry is a profession that is typically considered full time at 4 days/ week. This allows more flexibility in both your personal and professional schedule.
VARIATION IN DAILY DUTIES
Within general dentistry, daily duties vary depending on the day and patient.
VARIATION OF JOBS WITHIN THE DENTAL FIELD
Jobs within the dental field can include working with General Dentists, Orthodontists (braces), Pedodontics (kids), Endodontics (root canal therapy), Prosthodontists (replacing teeth), Periodontist (treatment of the gums and tooth roots), and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (surgery of the face, mouth, and jaws).
STEPPING STONE
Becoming an RDA can be a stepping stone to further your career to work in other areas within the dental office such as the front desk or as an office manager. It also increases the likelihood of being accepted into highly competitive Dental Hygiene programs, giving you the competitive edge.
What Are My Career Options and Job Description as a Dental Assistant?
Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. If you have strong communication skills, enjoy working with your hands as well as your mind and want a career with responsibility, dental assisting is for you.
Being a dental assistant offers many other options aside from working chairside with the dentist. Inside of the dental office, many financial coordinators, treatment counselors and office managers got their start and have a background as a dental assistant. Insurance companies hire dental assistants as consultants as well as other positions related to claims review and processing. Dental assisting can also open the door to a vast array of job positions in healthcare business, healthcare sales, consulting and management.
Let’s take a look at the job description of a dental assistant according to the American Dental Association;
HANDS ON LEARNING
At Dental Staff School, in addition to lectures and online education, we offer hands-on learning taught in a professional setting to allow you to practice in an actual dental environment. We feel this hands-on approach is critical to learning the skills you will need to succeed in a busy and technical dental environment. We are also able to offer an introduction to state-of-the-art machinery that other programs don’t have access to.
AFFORDABLE TUITION
We offer affordable tuition and several payment options for your assistance. This includes an option for financing that doesn’t require a credit check to make your career goals affordable and within your reach! Your tuition includes scrubs, supplies, and all the materials needed for your class.
TECHNOLOGY
Because we teach our clinical skills at a state-of-the-art dental practice, we have access to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of the latest technology in dentistry. We are fortunate to be able to expose our students to this technology which includes digital x rays, a 3D CT scanner, computer assisted anesthesia, a soft tissue diode laser, intraoral pictures, CariesView, CAD Cam technology to fabricate in office crowns, and digital scanning just to name some.
CAREER COACHING
We are committed to helping our students both in the classroom and in the workforce! Our curriculum includes lessons in both attaining a job and standing out within the workforce to advance your career.
PREPAREDNESS
Our friendly instructors have years of experience and are actively practicing with the dental field so they know firsthand the skills and knowledge needed for you to excel in a contemporary dental practice.
