Dental Assistant
Dental Assistants aid dentists during patient examinations and treatment.
They prepare the patient for treatment, provide the dentist with proper
instruments during treatment procedures, polish teeth, expose and process dental
x-ray films, sterilize instruments, conduct patient education in oral
hygiene, and perform day-to-day office management duties.
Work Environment:
Employment is found in private or group dental practices. Some work
in specialty practices, clinics, hospitals, or dental schools. Opportunities
exist in general dentistry or dental specialties, such as oral and maxillofacial
surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry
and other specialties. Another positive aspect of being a Dental Assistant
is the flexibility in working hours. The work schedule can be full-time
or part-time.
Job Outlook:
The employment outlook for both the Dental Assistant and the Dental
Office Manager is excellent. Statistics published by the Department
of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate employment of dental
assistants will continue to grow through the year 2010. In Arizona,
there is a severe shortage of qualified dental assistants. Public health
dentistry, dental insurance companies, and dental supply companies also
offer employment opportunities for the dental assistant. The demand
for dental services will continue to grow. Due to the success of preventive
dentistry in reducing the incidence of oral disease, the growing older
population will retain their teeth longer, and will be even more aware
of the importance of regular dental care. Dentists will need to employ
more dental assistants than ever before to meet the increased demand
for dental services.
Licensure/Certification:
Graduates of the Dental Assisting program are qualified to take the Dental Assisting National Board's certification examination and the Radiation Health and Safety Examination as required by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.
Salary:
Graduates can earn between $23,000 and $38,000 per year. (http://swz.salary.com)
Program Offerings:
The Dental Assisting program is offered as a Certificate of Completion
and an Associate in Applied Science degree. The programs are offered
at Phoenix College, Mesa Community College, and Rio Salado College.
The certificate of Completion in Dental Assisting can be achieved by
the full-time student in two semesters. For students enrolled part-time,
completion of the program will take four semesters. Successful completion
of the Certificate Program will provide the student with advanced level
skills for employment in dental facilities. The Associate in Applied
Science in Dental Assisting has been designed to enable students to
earn a two-year degree in the field of dental assisting. This program
includes all the required courses for a certificate in Dental Assisting,
with the addition of general education requirements. Successful completion
will provide the student with advanced skills for employment in dental
facilities.
For more information contact:
Phoenix College: Academic Advisor for Health Professions at 602-285-7862
Mesa Community College: Program Director at 480-654-7772
Rio Salado College: Advisor at 480-517-8540
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/dental/DA.htm
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d11/dental/assisting.html
http://www.riosalado.edu/dental_assisting/
Block Transfer for Health Professions:
Not applicable
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