7 Reasons To Become A Dental Assistant
Looking to start a dental career?
While many people dream of pursuing careers in dentistry, there are a significant number of people who do not consider every option.
Becoming a dentist is a great career choice, but it’s not always the best fit for everyone. Whether you’re not interested in years of extra schooling, or you’re looking for a fast way to start getting experience in the field of your dreams, not wanting to be a dentist does not mean you should rule out dentistry altogether!
Studying to become a dental assistant is a great alternative, and can even set you up to progress further towards other careers within the field. In this career guide, Cestar College brings you 7 reasons why you should consider starting a career as a dental assistant.
What Does A Dental Assistant Do?
A dental assistant is an integral part of any dental office. As a dental assistant, you will mainly work in four key areas of dentistry:
- Dental Radiography
- Operative Dentistry
- Preventative Dentistry
- Patient Care
The tasks that a dental assistant performs are dependant on the level of education they have. At Cestar College, we offer a program that provides both a Level I and Level II education. Our curriculum prepares students for every type of task that a dental assistant may be responsible for, including:
- Dental assisting fundamentals
- Dental record keeping
- Job-relevant laboratory procedures
- Exposing dental radiographs
- Selective coronal polishing
- Applying and removing dental dams
- Performing tooth whitening
- Applying desensitizing agents
- Applying fluoride
- And more!
Check out our blog post on the differences between dental assisting levels to see more about what you’ll learn in our Level I and II curriculums.
Why You Should Become A Dental Assistant
There are so many advantages to becoming a dental assistant. Here are Cestar College’s Top 7 reasons why you should consider starting your career in dentistry as a dental assistant:
1. Versatility
A dental assistant’s day-to-day responsibilities vary greatly. Because of the extensive knowledge provided within dental assistant program curriculums, Level I and II Dental Assistants are able to perform a variety of important tasks, working within both the administrative and clinical areas of a dental office. For more information on what a dental assistant’s job looks like, visit Cestar College’s program page.
2. Great Dental Foundation
Because of the rigorous curriculum dental assistant programs follow, the knowledge that a dental assistant acquires during their studies is applicable within multiple other career paths. Plus, many dental assistant programs, including Cestar College’s, provide on-the-job training, giving you real-world experience to put on your resume! You can use your dental assistant certificate as a stepping stone towards becoming a dental hygienist, dental laboratory technician, or even a dentist. In our blog post on Career Opportunities for Dental Assistants, we’ll walk you through some of the options available to those who hold dental assisting diplomas.
3. Job Security
Because of the increasing demand for dental assistants, job security has never been better! Unemployment rates for dental assistants are lower than the national average, and with Canada’s growing senior (65+) population, dentists will increasingly need more dental assistants to aid with workload and complete important tasks within the office.
4. Community Impact
A smile is a sign of confidence and joy. As a dental assistant, you’ll be able to help everyone achieve the smiles they’ve always wanted. This career allows you to make a positive impact on your community, encouraging those around you to keep smiling by helping them to attain bright white teeth!
5. Accelerated Education Path
One of the many benefits of becoming a dental assistant is the pace of the program. At Cestar College, our program allows you to earn your Level I and II certification in just over one year! That’s eight times faster than it takes to become a dentist (between a bachelor’s degree and graduate program)! Choosing an accelerated program allows you to start working quickly, which helps build your resume right away! Visit our blog post,”How Long Does It Take To Become A Dental Assistant” to see what steps are involved in achieving your career goals.
6. Healthy Work Environment
If you’re someone who likes to work with a team to make a difference in your community, this career is the right choice for you! A dental office is a welcoming, safe work environment that allows you to collaborate with other professionals and interact with many different people.
7. Job Satisfaction
In a recent survey of certified dental assistants, 78% of participating dental assistants responded saying that they had “very high or high job satisfaction”. With all the benefits this job provides, and the opportunity to directly impact those around you, this career choice proves to be both practical and fulfilling.
Why Choose Cestar College’s Program?
By applying to Cestar College’s Dental Assistant (Intra-Oral Level I & II) program, you’re choosing:
- One of the most comprehensive curriculums in Ontario, covering all aspects of dentistry available to Dental Assistants.
- A dental assisting program (Intra-Oral Level I & II) that is NDAEB-approved.
- An accredited college for providing formal training for national dental assisting, featuring HARP-approved dental radiography training.
- 1245 hours of learning, including an internship, giving you the benefits of real-life work experience while still in school.
- Small class sizes that foster discussion-based education and provide a welcoming learning environment for all students.
- Dedicated instructors with years of experience who take pride in seeing their students succeed.
- A challenging but rewarding learning experience full of support from all Cestar College faculty and administrators.
Have any questions for us? Want to learn more about Cestar College’s Dental Assistant (Intra-Oral Level I & II) program?
Please feel free to contact us! One of our representatives will be happy to assist you!
