Medical Assistant

Dental Assistant Career Advancement Opportunities Have Never Been Better by Ray Baron Dental assistant career advancement opportunities have never been better in the United States than they are today, partly due to Americans obsession with keeping their own teeth as long as possible and having them look pearly white.

Dental assistants perform a large variety of duties such as patient care, laboratory, and office duties. When patients come in, the dental assistant makes them comfortable, gives the dentist the patient's dental records, and prepares the patient for treatment. As the dentist examines his or her patient, the dental assistant works along side and hand the necessary materials and instruments to the dentist, along with using a device such as suction to keep the patients mouth clear. It is the dental assistant's job to disinfect and sterilize the dental equipment and instruments, prepare the needed instrument trays, and instruct patients on both general oral health and postoperative care. For experienced dental assistants, there is a number of dental assistance, career advancement opportunities available to them. As dental assistants gain working knowledge and expertise,

many prepare restoration and impression materials and not only take but process dental x-rays under the dentists direction. For those looking for dental assistant career advancement opportunities, they may become involved in removing sutures, using impressions to make casts of the mouth and teeth, or in the making of temporary crowns. Some schedule appointments, maintain patient records, do the billing and order dental materials and supplies.

Some individuals interested in dental assistant career advancement opportunities choose to continue their education and become licensed dental hygienists. Unlike dental assistants, dental hygienists examine a patient's gums and teeth, record the presence of abnormalities or disease, remove hard and soft deposits, plaque, stains, and calculus from their patients teeth, and provide other dental care. Some prepare laboratory and clinical diagnostic tests, which the dentists then interpret. Others wanting dental assistant career advancement opportunities may decide to change occupations and become occupational therapist aides Click here for the rest.