Considering a career as a Dental Assistant but not quite sure it’s right for you? One way to help you narrow down your career options is by debunking the top 4 dental assisting myths. You may be surprised as there is much more to being a dental assistant than meets the eye.
Myth #1: Anyone Could Do It
This is a common misconception, but dental assistants are highly skilled professionals. Dental offices are fast-paced environments where each dentist sees 1 to 2 patients per hour. In addition to going to school to learn the required terminology and technical skills, soft skills are essential. One of your many job duties is answering patient questions, ensuring patient comfort, and educating patients on follow-up care. You must also have exemplary communication skills and be able to work cohesively as part of a team.
Your job also entails:
- Patient intake, blood pressure, and pulse.
- Taking and developing x-rays.
- Completing dental pantographs.
- Assisting the dentist and hygienist during treatments.
- Infection control and sterilization.
- Clerical and administrative tasks.
Myth #2: There’s No Opportunity for Advancement
If one of your concerns is that you won’t have room to grow, there is plenty of room for growth! In the state of Colorado, you can further your education to pursue Expanded Duties Dental Assisting (EDDA).
This empowers you to take a more hands-on approach with patients and command a higher salary. EDDA training lightens both the dentist and hygienist’s load, allowing your dentist to schedule more patients. EDDA training is just 7 weeks long at the American Institute of Dental Assisting. If you decide you want even more of a challenge, you can go back to school to become a dental hygienist which takes about 2 years.
Myth #3: It Doesn’t Pay Well
The national average starting salary for a Dental Assistant is $39,780 per year. Not bad for just 13 weeks of training! Continue your education for EDDA job duties, and this bumps up to around $43,861 per year.
In addition to an attractive starting salary, you will enjoy higher than average job security. The demand for dental assistants nationwide is expected to grow by 11% from 2022 to 2030. If you relocate to a new state outside of Colorado, you may need to retake the local CDA certification to qualify for open positions.
Myth #4 It’s Easy
Each day presents new challenges. While there is a schedule in place and many patients you’ve meant before, you never know what will arise. From nervous patients to late patients, appointments that take longer than scheduled, unexpected technical issues, and more. You will need to problem solve and work with efficiency, all while ensuring patient comfort. These aren’t skills everyone possesses.
#5 You Aren’t Part of the Team
Don’t let the “assistant” part of the job title get you down as your role is to ensure smooth and safe daily operations. Your job entails juggling it all, making you an invaluable member of the dental office team. You lighten the hygienist’s load and help your dentist work with greater efficiency. You manage infection control and sterilization, which were always a priority—but even more so since the pandemic. You are the first face many patients see, so you set the tone for every appointment. You are in many ways the glue that holds everything together.
Have additional questions or myths you want to clear up? We invite you to reach out to AIDA today to learn more about launching a rewarding career as a Certified Dental Assistant. Or to book a tour of our school!