Becoming A Dental Assistant

When choosing a career, you want to ensure that you will enjoy your work and be in a pleasant environment. Being a dental assistant can be a rewarding profession for those who enjoy people, are comfortable in a dental office setting and desire flexible work hours. Howard Healthcare Academy believes the best way to know if you want to be a dental assistant is to discover what the job entails. From dental assistant training and office responsibilities to job opportunities and career paths, discover if being a dental assistant would be a fulfilling career choice for you.

Dental assistant tasks can vary, depending on where you are employed. From working with patients and helping dentists provide treatment, to managing the office and performing lab work, you may have many dental assisting responsibilities. Howard Healthcare Academy provides comprehensive training so you’re ready for all aspects of being a dental assistant.

To be an efficient dental assistant, your dental assisting program should educate you to be skilled at

• Interacting with patients to help them relax and prepare them for treatments
• Guiding patients in good oral hygiene
• Removing patients’ plaque buildup (RDA Duty)
• Assisting dentist during procedures
• Working comfortably with dental instruments, preparations and equipment
• Setting up, taking and processing oral x-rays — traditional and digital
• Helping maintain patient records and assisting with record keeping and appointment scheduling
• Maintaining an infection-free office environment

Dental assistant students attending Howard Healthcare Academy are well prepared to begin their careers after they earn their certificate. Our faculty includes dental professionals who are also accomplished instructors covering a variety of essential topics. Howard Healthcare Academy delivers a challenging curriculum that will expand your knowledge and build your confidence. In as little as 10 months, you will have completed our technical and hands-on dental assistant training program.

Howard Healthcare Academy gives you the skills needed to excel in your career as a dental assistant

• Knowledge of tooth surfaces, tooth names and numbering
• Competence to identify basic muscle groups, names of veins and bones from neck and head anatomy
• Certifications in CPR, radiation safety, coronal polish, pit and fissure sealants, infection control and California Dental Practice Act including laws and regulation
• Understanding of chemicals and cements used in the dental field
• Full grasp of oral landmarks and oral structures
• Hands-on experience working with patients in classes and externship

Completing the Howard Healthcare Academy dental assisting program in San Diego is the first step to your career as a dental assistant. Your ultimate goal is to get a fulfilling, steady job. Howard Healthcare Academy is dedicated to teaching you the skills to find gainful employment. Why does Howard Healthcare Academy assist with your job search? At Howard Healthcare Academy, we go beyond classroom learning and provide hands-on job assistance. We want to ensure our students fulfill their career goals. Our commitment doesn’t end at graduation — Howard Healthcare Academy provides lifetime placement assistance.

Helping people.
Every day as a dental assistant, you can help patients maintain their health and have a smile that can make them proud. You will meet and get to know a variety of people, including your colleagues. It’s satisfying to know that you make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Comfortable environment.
Dental offices are clean, professional and keep regular hours, so you will know your work schedule. You will be a member of a team of professionals working together to create a positive environment and pleasant experience for your patients.

Job opportunities.
The dental field continues to grow. Orthodontist and Dentist are ranked #1 and #2 in the U.S. News and World Report “The 100 Best Jobs.” Dental offices will need to be staffed with dental assistants.

Advancement is likely
After working as a dental assistant, you may decide to expand your job responsibilities by becoming a dental hygienists or dentists. You will need additional schooling for these occupations; however, the knowledge you receive on the job as a dental assistant will benefit you in advancing your career in the field of dentistry.