Categories: Dental Assisting Career

Dental Assistant – A Career On The Rise?

If you’re considering joining the multi-billion-dollar healthcare industry, an entry-level position as a Dental Assistant might be a smart choice. With the help of a Dental Assistant program like the one from PCI Health Training Center, more and more people are finding themselves in entry level positions in this field.

Who is a Dental Assistant?

A Dental Assistant is a key player in a dental office. Their job is to stay ahead of the day’s tasks and ensure everything goes according to plan during each patient visit.

As a Dental Assistant, your role is crucial to the success and smooth operation of the practice, including:

Assisting the dentist during procedures
Processing X-rays and completing lab tasks
Managing patient records and scheduling appointments
Taking the patient’s oral health history
Sterilizing dental instruments and ensuring hygiene compliance

Being a Dental Assistant, therefore, is a carefully choreographed dance of essential responsibilities. You not only ensure a smooth workflow, but also set a reassuring tone for each patient who walks through the practice’s door.

How to Become a Dental Assistant

PCI Health Training Center’s comprehensive Dental Assistant program combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical lab training.

In the classroom, you’ll learn anatomy and physiology, clinical procedures, preparing patients for treatment, chairside assisting, and radiology. The labs portion of the program trains you to perform basic dental procedures, identify and use dental instruments, and prepare materials for chairside assisting, all under the guidance of experienced instructors. Your training also includes an off-site externship at a dental office that provides real-world experience.

The Dental Assistant program at PCI can be completed in as little as nine months, allowing you to complete your education quickly.

Dental Assistant Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the Dental Assistant field is brimming with opportunities. On average, there are around 55,100 job openings in this field each year. This isn’t just a number — it’s a fact that the Dental Assistant field is growing faster than most other careers. Demand for Dental Assistants is expected to increase by 7% between 2022 and 2032.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, you now have a clearer understanding of the responsibilities that come with being a Dental Assistant, and the prospects that come with getting an education in this field.

At PCI Health Training Center, our Dental Assistant Program equips you with the basic skills you need to enter into this profession. And yes, we’re welcoming new enrollees! Contact us today and take that important first step toward completing your education.