Are you interested in becoming a dental assistant but not sure how long coursework will take? Do you have other responsibilities and not able to stay out of the workforce for an extended period of time? The good news is that taking a dental assistant program at a vocational college can be completed much faster than a 4-year degree. If you have less than a year to devote to becoming a dental assistant and the drive to complete the coursework, you can start working as a dental assistant in no time.
What Does a Dental Assistant Do?
Dental assistants support the dentist before, during and after procedures, keeping the patient comfortable and educated at all times. The individual tasks that a dental assistant will perform include:
- Setting up sanitized instruments
- Informing patients about procedures and treatments
- Preparing patients physically and emotionally
- Passing the dentist instruments and filling materials
- Managing suction and air-water syringes
- Encouraging patients to stay properly positioned and relaxed
- Providing clear aftercare instructions
- Educating patients about their overall dental care
A dental assistant has varied clinical and administrative tasks within a dental office. In addition to disinfecting equipment and sterilizing instruments, they act as a liaison between both the dentist and the patient. A dental assistant increases the overall efficiency of the dentist’s office by offering a second set of hands to the dentist. Without dental assistants, day-to-day function would be difficult to perform, and the quality of patient care would suffer.
Support the Dentist
A dental assistant is tasked with supporting the dentist during exams and minor dental procedures. This is commonly called four-handed dentistry. The dental assistant offers an additional set of hands to the dentist to maintain order during the procedure. Whether it is to keep the patient calm, interpret their body language or give instructions verbally, the dental assistant must keep in communication with both the dentist and patient to make sure everyone is safe and the dental procedure proceeds successfully.
Care for Patients
The patient is the main concern of the dental assistant. They will greet the patient in the waiting room and escort them to the dental station. The dental assistant will then explain what is going to happen so the patient is not surprised by anything. The dental assistant manages the patient with verbal encouragement as well as water and suction. They will even educate the patient for proper aftercare following a dental procedure.
Clean the Dentist’s Station
An important part of the dental assistant’s job is to keep the dental station disinfected and the dental instruments sanitized. There may be bacteria or viruses present in the dentist office and the dental assistant should minimize the exposure of the staff and patient to any of these concerns. Keeping a clean dentist’s station keeps everyone safe.
Perform Certain Administrative Tasks
A dental assistant spends most of their time managing patients and helping the dentist during dental procedures. The dental assistant will also perform light administrative tasks to support the staff at a dentist’s office. From recording medical history and procedure notes to scheduling appointments and the occasional billing question, the dental assistant is trained to pitch in if an administrative staff member is out of the office or tied up with another patient.
How Long Does a Dental Assistant Course Take?
Most jobs in the dental industry require a college degree, but what if you don’t have years to devote to higher education? The good news is you have options. You can become a dental assistant in months rather than years. Coursework is not rushed, you just learn what you need to know to succeed at your job, no elective classes on poetry or painting to make you a well-rounded student. You just learn what you need to know and have the time to practice your craft during lab procedures on classmates and real patients.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a Diploma in Dental Assisting?
There are many benefits to getting a diploma in dental assisting. From a complete education and hands-on training to industry-experienced instructors and career services, you get what you need to start working on day one as a dental assistant.
Benefit #1: Complete Education
The diploma program focuses on the topics that will help you succeed in your new role as a dental assistant. During the dental assistant program, you will learn clinical charting, oral hygiene instruction, obtaining bacteriological specimens, polish clinical crowns, take and pour alginate impressions, place/remove periodontal dressing, apply topical fluorides, apply topical anesthetics, suture removal, polish amalgam restorations, place/remove matrix, place and remove temporary restorations, apply liners, varnish and bases, fabricate/cement temporary crowns, apply sealants.
The dental assistant diploma program courses will prepare you for patient treatments, help you support the dentist, prepare trays for patient appointments, sterilize, and disinfect instruments and equipment, take x-ray exams, and manage dental records.
Benefit #2: Real World Training
One of the best parts about the dental assistant diploma program is all the real-world training that you will receive to hone your craft and prepare for real patients. As a dental assistant student, you will practice taking and pouring dental impressions, rinsing and suction, and many of the other important tasks that you will do during a patient appointment. You start learning your craft working on your classmates’ teeth and then move to real patients during an externship.
Benefit #3: Industry-Experienced Instructors
At Meridian College, we hire industry experienced instructors to mentor you through the dental assistant coursework. They have experience from dental practices and have been teaching dental assisting classes for many years. They understand what you need to know to be successful as a dental assistant and prepare you for your first day of work. Since class sizes are small, they can offer you one-on-one attention and answer any questions you may have to help you graduate and become a dental assistant.
Benefit #4: Career Services
The best part about attending a dental assisting program is the career services that are offered to graduates. We will follow you throughout your career and pitch in to help you through your journey and support you with interview practice, resume building and job fairs. And, since we have strong ties with the community, we even hear about positions at dental practices even before the public. We try to find the right job to match your knowledge and passion, so you have a long and enjoyable career.
What Are the Skills You Learn During a Dental Assistant Program?
There are many skills that you will master during the dental assistant program. From communication and time management to attention to detain and the ability to educate, having the right skill set sets you up for success as a dental assistant.
Skill #1: Communication Skills
Communication is the most important skill that you will master during your coursework in dental assisting. Much of what you do is talk with patients and dentists to understand what they need and provide the solutions to their problems. You will also spend time managing charts and writing reports so written communication skills are paramount. Further, you will learn how to interpret body language because a patient may not want to concern you with their discomfort but if you can see it in their body language, you can help them stay calm and remain comfortable in the dentist’s chair.
Skill #2: Time Management Skills
Nothing is worse than leaving a patient waiting for their appointment. It is even more of an issue, making the dentist wait for an instrument during a delicate procedure. Having good time management skills means getting the job done right the first time. Managing your own time will help keep patients happy and dentists supported as you are the liaison that keeps everything running smoothly.
Skill #3: Attention to Detail
The details are important as a dental assistant. Whether it is the right mix of elements to take an impression of a patient’s teeth or recording the right allergy in a patient’s chart, paying attention to detail is important for a dental assistant. Making a mistake or writing down the wrong information can have devastating consequences.
Skill #4: The Ability to Educate
Part of your job as a dental assistant is educating patients about procedures, aftercare, and general hygiene. During a dental assistant program, you will get plenty of time to practice your education skills working in groups and educating patients during exercises and lab work. Your ability to properly convey information in a way that a patient will understand, and follow is important for every dental assistant to master.
Skill #5: A Positive Attitude
Patients look to you as a dental assistant to keep them informed and calm during a dental exam or procedure. A positive attitude will keep the patient comfortable during an anxious time in their day. If you stay positive, the patient will mirror you and stay positive about the situation.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how long a dental assistant program takes, it is time to learn more about Meridian College’s dental assistant diploma program. Take the next step in your career and contact us to learn more about how we can help you start a challenging and rewarding career in dental assisting.
The Dental Assistant training program at Meridian College provides extensive hands-on training including a school externship at a dental office where you will assist the dentist in treating actual patients.
Meridian College also has dedicated school instructors, which offer you training in dental assisting that you can use to get an entry-level position at a dentist office or dental clinic. You get to work in real world situations and use your training from classroom lectures to further your skill during lab work in dental assisting.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a dental assistant.