For this article, the subject will be dental assistant training. Assistants are usually employed by most dentists today. These assistants are responsible for completing tasks that could include assisting in treatment of patients, educating patients on aftercare, lab work, or management of office duties.
Dental assistants are different from dental hygienist because they are not properly licensed to carry out various treatments and procedures the hygienist and dentists are able to perform. Often referred as dental nurses, these assistants are still very valuable despite not being licensed. One must initially complete dental assistant training in preparation for the CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) exam. The four hour exam is a necessity for all seeking this profession. One may train for this exam by means of several different methods.
One method is to complete a two year associates degree program through a university or community college that offers dental assistant training. A GED or high school diploma is required before entering an associates degree program. It is not required to have an associates degree before one can become an assistant. Although, having an associates degree would help tremendously for those seeking career advancement later, since most dental hygienist have a two year degree.
Vocational studies schools and technical institutes also offer one year dental courses that offer another method to becoming an assistant. This training program spends more time towards hands-on experience and in turn is usually faster paced. To enter a one year training program, one must provide a high school degree or the equivalent. The vast majority of students who enter this program finish as dental assistants.
Although rare, in some states individuals are able to work under a dentist's supervision and get on-the-job training in preparation for the CDA exam. Regulations and rules vary state to state, for this reason it is important to seek out what exactly is or isn't allowed in the area you are looking to practice in. Some states will allow on-the-job training, others will not. To be eligible to apply for certification, one must work under a licensed dentist's supervision for two years.
The course work for dental assistant training is divided between theory courses and clinical study courses. Office procedures and fundamentals and dental science are examples of classes included for the theory courses. The included classes under clinical study courses are taking of x-rays, updating of patient records, and equipment maintenance. One year technical institutes and vocational schools offering dental certificate programs will usually include classes as previously mentioned.
The diploma programs will have additional classes that go further in depth in the clinical studies. Some of the classes that these universities or community colleges might offer are human biology, radiology, oral anatomy and other subjects that are related. These classes will allow the students to work in the field of periodontics and orthodontics.
The associates degree programs will have further classes in dental assistant training than the diploma programs offer. Some classes that may be required are dental procedures, health and safety classes such as OSHA, impression making, and others. These classes are key to helping prepare the students for a future career in dentistry.
Dental assistants are different from dental hygienist because they are not properly licensed to carry out various treatments and procedures the hygienist and dentists are able to perform. Often referred as dental nurses, these assistants are still very valuable despite not being licensed. One must initially complete dental assistant training in preparation for the CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) exam. The four hour exam is a necessity for all seeking this profession. One may train for this exam by means of several different methods.
One method is to complete a two year associates degree program through a university or community college that offers dental assistant training. A GED or high school diploma is required before entering an associates degree program. It is not required to have an associates degree before one can become an assistant. Although, having an associates degree would help tremendously for those seeking career advancement later, since most dental hygienist have a two year degree.
Vocational studies schools and technical institutes also offer one year dental courses that offer another method to becoming an assistant. This training program spends more time towards hands-on experience and in turn is usually faster paced. To enter a one year training program, one must provide a high school degree or the equivalent. The vast majority of students who enter this program finish as dental assistants.
Although rare, in some states individuals are able to work under a dentist's supervision and get on-the-job training in preparation for the CDA exam. Regulations and rules vary state to state, for this reason it is important to seek out what exactly is or isn't allowed in the area you are looking to practice in. Some states will allow on-the-job training, others will not. To be eligible to apply for certification, one must work under a licensed dentist's supervision for two years.
The course work for dental assistant training is divided between theory courses and clinical study courses. Office procedures and fundamentals and dental science are examples of classes included for the theory courses. The included classes under clinical study courses are taking of x-rays, updating of patient records, and equipment maintenance. One year technical institutes and vocational schools offering dental certificate programs will usually include classes as previously mentioned.
The diploma programs will have additional classes that go further in depth in the clinical studies. Some of the classes that these universities or community colleges might offer are human biology, radiology, oral anatomy and other subjects that are related. These classes will allow the students to work in the field of periodontics and orthodontics.
The associates degree programs will have further classes in dental assistant training than the diploma programs offer. Some classes that may be required are dental procedures, health and safety classes such as OSHA, impression making, and others. These classes are key to helping prepare the students for a future career in dentistry.
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Want to find out more about dental assistant training then visit Mary Weston's site for more information on related dental assistant training programs.
