If you had to make a list of some of the hardest working men and women in the dental profession, dental assistants would undoubtedly be right at the top.
Yes, an “actual dentist” is the highly educated specialist in the room at any given time. But dental assistants provide invaluable patient care AND essential chair-side support as those dentists complete all of their various exams and procedures on a patient. This can include but is certainly not limited to assisting with fillings, crowns and even potentially painful and delicate processes like tooth extractions.
Dental assistants are also a core part of the patient experience for many practices, as their friendly face is usually the first point of contact whenever someone comes in for an appointment. Not only are they tasked with welcoming and comforting a patient, but they also get them seated, make sure they’re properly draped and answer all questions they may have to put their minds at ease.
All of this is to say that dental assistants are important and if you want to become a dental assistant yourself, there are a few key places you should look in.
Finding Your Perfect Dental Assistant Job: Breaking Things Down
As stated, one of the most common places to find dental assistant jobs happens to be in a private dental office. You normally don’t have to go very far to find one of these, especially if you live in a major city. Sites like Glassdoor.com are a great way to not only find available dental assistant positions, but to also research the organization that may become your future employer.
However, a private dental office is FAR from your only option to that end. You could also look for dental assistant jobs in settings like:
- Group practices, which is a term used to describe a medical practice operated by several different doctors.
- Hospitals, which again should be fairly easy to find in your area.
- Insurance companies.
- Public health facilities.
- Educational institutions (which can also be a great way to become a dental assistant AND aid in the training of others on the same career path).
- Dental suppliers and dental manufacturing companies.
- Insurance companies.
While dental assistants are popular in all areas, according to Google Trends a few markets around the country that are currently showing a large degree of interest in the profession include:
- Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Louisville, Kentucky.
- Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Chicago, Illinois.
A certain amount of education IS required to become a dental assistant – it’s not something you can just walk in and do off the street. According to the experts at ExploreHealthCareers.com, most of these programs take between nine and 11 months to properly finish (though some educational institutions may offer accelerated programs that can be completed faster) and you’ll cover a wide range of different topics like chemistry, microbiology, communication skills, dental materials, dental socialites, anatomy and physiology and more.
If you’d like to find out more information about where to find dental assistant jobs, or if you have any additional questions about your own situation that you’d like to discuss with someone in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.