dental assisting program facts

Five Things Nobody Tells You about Dental Assisting Programs

So you want to be a dental assistant—that’s great! It’s an outstanding profession that allows you to make a positive difference in people’s lives (and mouths). 

Dental assistants play an important role in the office. They work closely with dentists to provide direct patient care. They take X-rays. They take notes, schedule appointments, and make follow-up calls to ensure that patients are doing well.

Life as a dental assistant may sound pretty clear-cut, but here's a look at five things nobody tells you about dental assistant programs—and why they should matter to you:

1. Hands-on experience matters

You can learn to ride a bike by reading about it, but you’ll be a whole lot better at it if you actually hop on, start peddling, and actually do it. The best dental assisting programs offer you ample opportunities to gain hands-on, real-world experience.

Sure, you need a firm grasp of dental anatomy, clinical science, and community health. But you’ll also need to know how to use the tools and technology, how to assist chairside and how to follow proper procedures to ensure the best possible outcomes for your patients. Some universities offer advanced dental mannequins for students to practice on before interacting with real patients. 

2. Interpersonal skills matter

Dental assisting is about more than simply working on patients. It’s about making sure that patients are comfortable and understand what’s happening, along with helping them follow their treatment plans. It’s also about working well as part of a dynamic team in what are often fast-paced environments.

That’s why the best dental assisting programs give you both a solid foundation of technical skills and the tools you need to interact with a variety of people—from patients to dentists to dental hygienists to office staff. For this reason, the curriculum should include both human anatomy and some introductory psychology.

3. Earning your degree doesn’t have to take a long time

Some dental assisting programs can take several years to complete at traditional four-year institutions. But college doesn't have to take forever. 

There are programs that take as few as 15 months to complete—and you will still have all the knowledge and skills you need to launch a successful career as a dental assistant. And remember, the sooner you earn your degree, the sooner you can start helping people.

4. You will have to keep up with cutting-edge technology

Like every area of the healthcare industry, dentistry is constantly evolving and improving. You should be prepared to get comfortable using basic technology—start with a computer and advance to more complex tools. As a dental assistant, you will likely work with X-ray machines and other radiology equipment, along with dental implants and new technologies that include hand-held scanning devices, 3-D imaging models, and more.

As the technology being used in practice changes, so does the technology you’ll be using in your dental assisting program. 

5. You could be prepared for a variety of paths

There was a time when dental assistants simply worked closely with dentists to clean teeth, pull teeth, and fill cavities. Those days are gone—if you want them to be. Today, dental assistants are able to specialize in a variety of areas, including oral surgery, pediatrics, and orthodontics.

If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. The skills and knowledge you could gain in your dental assisting program should prepare you to transition into one of these specialty areas once you have gained some practical, real-world experience.

Life as a dental assistant could provide an array of benefits, including the ability to follow a path that fits your personal and professional interests, and ample opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of your patients. To learn more about how you could become a dental assistant in as few as 15 months, contact ECPI University today and ask about earning your Associate of Applied Science in Health Science with a concentration in Dental Assisting. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Health Science TODAY!

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.