Dental Assistant

Duties and  Responsibilities: Dental assistant program can get you started in a greet career where you will be an important part of the dental office. You’ll have the opportunity to handle many phases of a patient’s visit and even assist the dentist during procedures.

Salary: The expected salary for a dental assistant is between $22,000 and $43,000 a year as of 2015, according to payscale. Factors like profit sharing and bonuses also contribute to the hurly paid position.

Education: Some states require dental assistant to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. Most programs are offered by community colleges, although they also may be offered by vocational or technical schools. Most programs take about 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Programs that last 2 years are less common and lead to an associate’s degree. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), part of the American Dental Association, accredited nearly 300 dental assisting training programs in 2015.

Demand or need for this profession: Dental assistants aid dentists in the day-to-day care and treatment of patients. In many ways they serve as nurses to a dentist. The demand for dental assistants in the U.S. is growing. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), employment growth in this field is expected to be much faster than average through the year 2014. Population growth and the fact that more middle-aged people are keeping their natural teeth are fueling a demand for dental services.