Becoming an operating technician requires specialized training on the equipment you'll use and the diseases and injuries you'll see. You may also wish to become certified as a surgical technologist. Becoming a Dental Assistant can be the first step on a career path leading to a Dental Hygienist or a Dentist!
Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics, or dental offices. Programs shall have an advisory committee consisting of an equal number of registered dental assistants and dentists, including at least two registered dental assistants and two dentists, all currently licensed by the Board. The advisory committee shall meet at least once each academic year with the program director, faculty and appropriate institutional personnel to monitor the ongoing quality and performance of the program.
States offering licensure or registration have a variety of schools offering courses—approximately 10 to 12 months in length—that meet their State?s requirements. Other States require dental assistants to complete State-approved education courses of 4 to 12 hours in length. States offering licensure or registration have a variety of schools offering courses -- approximately 10 to 12 months in length -- that meet their state's requirements. Many states require continuing education to maintain licensure or registration.
Certification is an acknowledgment of an assistant?s qualifications and professional competence and may be an asset when one is seeking employment. Candidates may qualify to take the DANB certification examination by graduating from an ADA-accredited dental assisting education program or by having 2 years of full-time, or 4 years of part-time, experience as a dental assistant. Certificate courses also fulfill many of the requirements of the Dental Assisting AAS degree program.
Dentists, doctors, and dental assistants all attend specialized colleges or schools to learn their respective crafts. Your best bet when looking for the right dental assisting education is to consider schools that combine classroom theory with practical, hands-on dental technician skills. Dentistry is an exciting field. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants form a team that provide vital health services for Georgia consumers. Dentists are usually graduates of colleges or universities with undergraduate degrees. They study an additional 3 to 4 years in dental school earning either a DDS or DMD degree upon graduation.
Dentists determine how many responsibilities an assistant has, but they can do anything from clean your teeth below the gumline, to taking x-rays and moldings of teeth for crowns. Dentists are also increasing their productivity by using Dental Assistants for routine tasks. In fact, many areas of the country are experiencing a shortage of trained Dental Assistants, especially chair-side Assistants. Dentists may perform some work in their own laboratories.
Dentists are expected to hire more assistants to meet the needs of California?s growing population. 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. Dentists will need to employ more dental assistants than ever before to meet the increased demand for dental care. There are more than 200,000 active dental assistants in the U.S.
Dentists have come to rely on their assistants to perform an expanding array of important patient procedures. A career as a dental assistant offers variety and flexibility in work and schedules, excellent working conditions, and personal satisfaction from doing an important service and working with people.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?gregory wadel
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