 Day in the Life
Dental assistants
work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area usually is
near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials,
and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Dental
assistants must wear gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to
protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.
Assistants also follow safety procedures to minimize the risks
associated with the use of x-ray machines.
About half of dental
assistants have a 35- to 40-hour workweek. Most of the rest work
part-time or have variable schedules. Depending on the hours of the
dental office where they work, assistants may have to work on Saturdays
or evenings. Some dental assistants hold multiple jobs by working at
dental offices that are open on different days or scheduling their work
at a second office around the hours they work at their primary office.
 Dental
assistants must be a second pair of hands for a dentist; therefore,
dentists look for people who are reliable, work well with others, and
have good manual dexterity.
Without advanced
education, advancement opportunities are limited. Some dental assistants
become office managers, dental-assisting instructors, dental product
sales representatives, or insurance claims processors for dental
insurance companies. Others go back to school to become
dental hygienists. For
many, this entry-level occupation provides basic training and experience
and serves as a steppingstone to more highly skilled and higher paying
jobs.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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