Becoming a dental assistant is rarely simple, particularly for those who lack the necessary classroom and work experience.
Although anything is possible, a dental assistant often requires a combination of in-class and hands-on experience to land a job at a dental office.
To better understand the true value of experience at a dental practice, let’s consider two of the most common ways that students learn how to become successful dental assistants:
While dental assistant no experience jobs are out there, it’s best to start by learning in a classroom setting. For most students, this is how you get started.
These lessons usually highlight a variety of dental assistant techniques and show students how to perform in numerous day-to-day situations.
Classroom sessions are valuable and with hands-on experience will provide students with a more well-rounded educational program. In a classroom setting, items such as vocabulary, knowledge of cements, and much more are taught.
There are several reasons why obtaining a dental assistant position is more difficult without classroom lessons. Even if you want to become a dental assistant without experience, these are the reasons time spent in the classroom will help you get the job:
Gain More Knowledge – Classroom lessons provide a structured environment for acquiring the theoretical knowledge necessary for dental assisting. Students learn about dental anatomy, oral health, dental procedures, infection control, radiography, dental materials, and more.
Safety and Infection Control – Classroom lessons emphasize the importance of safety protocols and infection control measures in dental settings.
Radiography – Dental assistants need to be proficient in taking and developing dental X-rays. Classroom lessons cover radiographic techniques, positioning, and interpretation of X-rays.
If you want to learn more about training to be a dental assistant, you can find an overview of our education here.
Externships are ideal for students who already possess a minimal amount of classroom training.
During an externship, a student can work at a dental office and find out exactly what it’s like to perform the day-to-day duties of a dental assistant.
Externships allow dental assistant students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the classroom to real patients.
In addition, completing an externship may help a student gain a competitive advantage over other job candidates down the line.
Finishing an externship shows a prospective employer that a student is capable of performing dental assisting tasks at the highest level. As a result, including details about an externship on a resume may help a student land his or her dream job as a dental assistant faster than ever before.
So which is better: classroom lessons or externships? For those who want to become dental assistants, both are crucial, as they enable students to gain the classroom training and hands-on work experience they need to succeed as dental assistants.
If you do not have any experience, you can still work as a dental assistant in the field. You’ll likely be put in charge of administrative tasks and patient care before and after procedures. You’ll work under direct supervision and your job responsibility will be limited.
We would only recommend considering this a foundation for your future career goals. Make sure to further your education and experience so you can take on more advanced tasks and command a higher salary.
So, how much do dental assistants make with no experience? You will likely end up with the role of “dental helper,” rather than an assistant, and can expect to be paid anywhere from $15-20 per hour depending on your location.
If you want to get a dental assistant job but don’t have the experience or education, you’ll want to work on your application. Having a great dental assistant resume with no experience that outlines your qualifications will certainly help.
When you’re ready to further your education and learn more about how we can help you obtain the job of your dreams, contact us for more info!
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