No One Hates The Dental Assistant
People often have deep-seated fears about going to see the dentist. They put off these visits for as long as they can. And when they finally get to the office, they confide in the dental assistant about how much they hate coming. It's strange though. For in truth, dental assistants and hygienists have the most face time with patients. They do much of the cleaning, prepping, and scheduling associated with the dental office. And yet, not many people hate dental assistants. In fact, some people even regard dental assistants as friends who can rescue them from the dentists when the pain becomes too unbearable. If you're thinking about getting into dentistry, the choice seems pretty clear.
Becoming a Dental Assistant or Hygienist
Although similar in many ways, dental assistants and hygienists have different job responsibilities and educational requirements. The former is more analogous to a medical assistant in that you handle the administrative support, tidying, and prepping associated with dentistry. An associates degree is more than sufficient for entry. Dental hygienists are more analogous to nurses who perform much more detailed work. They instruct patients on oral health, remove deposits, clean teeth, and examine gums. Licensing is typically mandatory, and an associates degree or higher is often required.
To become a dentist, on the other hand, usually requires 2-4 years of bachelor's training followed by 4 years of academic stuffy, and then several years of clinical practice. They then have to receive licensing. And after all of that, they don't enjoy nearly as much demand (or appreciation) as their administrative counterparts. While new positions for dentists are expected to increase by approximately 10% through 2016, positions for assistants and hygienists will increase by 29% and 30% respectively.
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