More Than a Number Dental Products Dental Research Dental Education Military Dentistry Other Indices National Org. State Organizations US Government International Org. If you like helping people, enjoy working with your hands as well as your mind and want a job with responsibility, a career as a dental assistant may be for you. Assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. Dental assistants can begin their careers without an advanced college degree, although continuing education is encouraged.
Assistants often have considerable freedom to choose their own hours.
So if a career in health care appeals to you, but several extra years of school and a rigid work schedule don't, then dental assisting is a field you will want to explore. The best way to become a dental assistant is to receive formal education. Studying in an accredited program provides education that is based on the latest procedures and techniques. A career as a dental assistant offers a wide range of challenges. There are more than 200,000 active dental assistants in the U.S. today.