Dental Assistant: A Smart Career Choice in the Health Care Field

Few careers offer the interesting job prospects of a Dental Assistant. As the Canadian population ages, the dental health sector will only get busier - and that means more jobs. Employment in the sector is projected to increase by 36% in the next decade, and "Dental Assistant" will be one of the jobs leading that growth. The position offers many benefits including generally clean and professional work environments, a variety of employment locations, and the satisfaction of knowing that your job is helping people.

Many career colleges offer Dental Assistant programs, designed to prepare students for careers as a dental assistant (Level 1 & 2), intra oral dental assistant, or PDA (preventative dental assistant). These positions can be found at both family dentistry offices and cosmetic-dentistry offices. No matter which career or work environment you choose, you can expect to be responsible for the following activities:

· Polishing teeth and applying fluoride and sealant

· Taking preliminary impressions for diagnostic casts

· Creating temporary crowns and restorations

· Acting as a general assistant to the dentist during patient examinations

· Preparing dental instruments and materials

· Explaining dental hygiene basics to patients

· Taking and developing X-rays

Students will typically learn the skills required to begin employment in the dental sector over the course of a 26-week program, which will typically include a 2-week job placement internship. Many students find the two-week practical experience to be invaluable, as it truly prepares them for the "real world" life of a dental assistant. Students interact with dentists and more experienced employees in order to both learn more about the industry and develop invaluable contacts. A typical course load for a Level 1 dental assistant program would likely include the following courses:

· Dental office terminology

· Tooth morphology

· Oral pathology

· Dental and medical emergencies & pharmacology

· Preventive dentistry & nutrition

· Communication and psychology in the dental office

· Clinical procedures

· Dental radiography

· Radiation protection

· Oral surgery and endodontics

· Orthodontics and fixed prosthodontics

· Removable dentures/prosthodontics and periodontics

· CPR and first aid

Students who have an interest in furthering their study and taking the Level 2 training (and who have a 70% average or better) can do so by extending their studies by 13 weeks. This will give students a "Preventive Dental Assistant" designation, and even better job prospects, and likely a higher salary. No matter how far you choose to take your studies, a career as a Dental Assistant could be what you're looking for.

Contact the The National Academy of Health & Business (NAHB) for more information on their dental assistant program.

Mitch Conway is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.