DENTAL ASSISTING

Dental Assisting experience will help you out tremendously in dental school. This is an entry-level occupation that provides basic training and experience and serves as a bridge to more highly skilled and higher paying jobs.

You will be able to:

Apply concepts and techniques more readily than those that have never dental assisted.

Gain a better understanding of the field and how a dental office runs.

Learn how to work using four handed dentistry

Develop the manual dexterity needed

Develop your proficiency of dental terminology

Develop your interpersonal skills with patients, which is very important.

Observe the step by step procedures (i.e. various cavity preparations and restorations, different materials, instruments, etc.)

Learn how to take and develop radiographs (x-rays)

Learn how to do laboratory duties (i.e. casts of teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, make temporary crowns, etc.)

Get first hand experience with infection control and its importance (i.e. sterilization and disinfection )

Familiarize yourself with the oral environment and observe the variations from patient to patient

You can do this almost anywhere by volunteering or applying for a job at:

A Private Practice

Community Clinic

Hospital Dental Clinics

It would probably be best to find someone that can come with a good recommendation or referral (i.e. ask SAID mentors/dentist)

A DENTAL ASSISTANT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH A DENTAL HYGIENIST WHO IS LICENSED TO PERFORM DIFFERENT CLINICAL TASKS.