Dental assistants and medical assistants have surprisingly similar roles. They work respectively alongside a dentist or doctor to provide quality patient care, as well as carry out routine administrative and clinical duties. What’s more, these two professions are currently at high risk of contracting COVID-19 because of the nature of their jobs.

Being a dental assistant can be incredibly rewarding and gratifying. But like any good career path that’s worth pursuing, the role also comes with its fair share of challenges you’ll need to face on a daily basis if you want to be successful in the industry. 

A lot has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world. But one thing that certainly hasn’t changed is the need for quality dental care provided by dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

If you are contemplating becoming a medical assistant or dental assistant, you will realize that the two professions are quite similar. Both medical assistants and dental assistants work under the supervision of certified doctors: dentists and physicians. They both play supportive roles in the office, like patient record management and paperwork filing.

It is recommended to enroll in an accredited dental assisting course as the best choice of action to pursue a career as a dental assistant. The more professional the training and education, the better the opportunity to land a good job.  

This is part 1/2 of our miniseries on agile dental staffing

COVID-19 devastated many industries and cost thousands of workers across the US their jobs. But one small piece of positivity to come out of the destructive virus is many employers recognizing the importance of the sharing economy and leveraging the skills of independent contractors.

...and give Cloud Dentistry a shot instead.

If you’ve recently been dismissed from your job as a dental hygienist, see this time in your life as an opportunity to try something new. If you were getting bored of your old way of working, now’s the time to look into alternative career options in dentistry. Whether you’re temporarily out of work due to the coronavirus or you’re permanently out of work because your old office has closed down, there are always other options out there.

Regardless of the levels of success, competency, or experience, at one time or another, almost every dental staff experiences professional fears and moments of doubt. For instance, currently, the novel Coronavirus is a case study of uncertainty. No dental staff can predict how long the pandemic, or fear of the pandemic will ultimately affect their job or the economy.

Choosing a career is one of the most important things you do in life. Whether you make the big decision in high school, college or after you’ve been working for several years, the selection you make will have a considerable effect on your life for years to come. It’s certainly not something to rush into. 

Dentistry encompasses many aspects that make it a fascinating career.  If you have an interest in science, anatomy, and the human body and you combine that with the ability to communicate effectively and a desire for continual learning, you will find your home in dentistry.

The best person to ask as what it takes to be an excellent dental assistant is a dentist. The dentist will spend about 90% of the working day with the dental assistant in the treatment rooms or in the lab area. Working side by side they get to know each other's habits very well.

The day starts with a morning meeting, and you are checking the first patient's chart for updated health history and checking the schedule against the treatment plan.  Did you set up the syringe for an upper molar? The patient has problems with epinephrine, did you insert the correct carpule? The patient is in a wheelchair, and you will need help getting the patient into the dental chair.  Your mind is doing a check and balance on each aspect of the patient that is about to be seated. Never the same day and never the same patients makes for a challenging and intriguing day of the dental assistant.

In the general dental practice, the dental assistant must have the necessary skills that include using four-handed dentistry techniques. The term four-handed dentistry describes the seated dentist and the chair-side assistant working in harmony as an efficient team.  On direct demand from the doctor, the assistant will pass the correct dental instruments, mix types of cement and impression materials when needed all while making sure the field of vision is kept clear for the dentist to see and to work.

The dental assistant profession has its ups and downs. Thus, if you intend to join this career path soon, it is good to understand what awaits you, especially in regards to the work environment you will be operating in and the responsibilities involved.

After completing an accredited course in dental assisting from a local community college or technical college you may feel you are ready to embark upon your new career as a dental assistant. You will quickly learn that this is just a small step into your new world. It is often said that experience is the best teacher and in dental assisting each patient encounter will teach the dental assistant something new.  

One great perk of living in North America is access to a wide variety of health-related services. Dental care comprises a large portion of the healthcare sector, and in this domain lie many roles to fill.