DENTAL ASSISTING

A CAREER ON THE MOVE

The trained dental assistant is expected to develop skills to assist the dentist with treatment procedures at chairside; produce diagnostic aids for interpretation by the dentist; provide oral health instructions for child, teenage, and adult patients; perform chairside support and laboratory procedures that are required for dental treatments; and perform treatment services where state legal provisions authorize the dentist to assign such tasks.  Dental assistants are also expected to develop skills in basic business office procedures.

If you are thinking about a career in the health field, and you are comfortable working directly with people, consider dental assisting.

Where the action is?

Assisting with a variety of treatment procedures performed by the dentist in general dentistry may be your niche.  Or, if you prefer a specialty, you may find that your interest is in assisting the oral surgeon in a manner similar to the nurse in the hospital operating room.

Your preference may be assisting an orthodontist whose diagnostic, treatment, and laboratory procedures offer a variety of tasks directed toward the prevention and correction of irregular alignment of teeth and facial structures.

Your very favorite choice may be assisting in pediatrics, dentistry for children, for the fun and challenge that it offers.  The endodontist, who treats the inner structure of the teeth, requires assistance with a variety of chairside and supportive procedures.

And finally, if you prefer a combination of assisting in surgical procedures and patient education, working with a periodontist, who treats the surrounding and supporting tissues of the teeth, may be just the right place for you.

General dentistry and dental specialties are found in private and group practices, hospitals, Federal, State, and community clinics; dental school clinics: armed services; and Veterans Administration and Public Health Service Hospitals.

Employment opportunities

After gaining experience in the practice setting, dental assistants may be employed by such industries as dental manufacturers, sales, and insurance companies offering dental coverage.  Some are employed as dental office administrators, or dental assisting supervisors in dental school clinics or large group practices.  With further education, the field of dental assisting  education offers opportunities in teaching and program administration.

Dental Assisting is a career with more than four position opportunities for each graduate.  Local dentists urgently need trained Registered Dental Assistants.  Salaries and benefits are above normal for the entry education/license level.  Full-time and part-time positions are available.  Graduates of CCSF Dental Assisting Program are qualified to:

1.       expose dental X-rays in California                       

2.       take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination - CDA

3.       take the California State Registration Examination - RDA

(Upon successfully passing this examination, the student is issued two additional stickers to their license for the intra-oral procedures of coronal polish and ultrasonic orthodontic cement removal.)

Graduates are encouraged to participate in continuing education activities, to keep pace with the ever expanding role of the Dental Assistant as well as to keep their licenses current.

  THERE IS AN ACTION CAREER AHEAD...

WHEN YOU BECOME AN EDUCATED DENTAL ASSISTANT