Important Things You Should Know About Dental Assistant Courses

If you’re thinking about becoming a dental assistant, you’ve picked a good time for it.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for dental assistants is high – and growing higher.  Better yet, there are plenty of dental assistant courses in New York that can help you quickly become qualified.  This could be your opportunity to move into a lucrative field where your skills will be in-demand!

However, before you jump in, there are a few things you should know so that you can plan.  Think carefully, and you could have a great new career ahead of you.

Four Things You Should Know About Becoming A Dental Assistant

1 – You can receive your certification relatively quickly

Becoming a dental assistant takes much less time than it takes to become a full dentist or dental hygienist.  All told, it requires 600 hours of study here in New York – 400 hours of classroom work and 200 hours of apprenticeship.  Typically, you can complete your studies in just a year or two, although that will depend on the program and the amount of time you can devote to it.

2 – Get as much hands-on experience as you can

That 200 hours of apprenticeship is a minimum, not a maximum.  If possible, you should look for opportunities to get even more hands-on experience while you learn.  The more real world experience you have before you enter the job market, the easier it will be for you to find a good job.

3 – Practice your people skills

One critical aspect of being a dental assistant that isn’t covered in classrooms is your interpersonal skills.  This is a people-focused job.  You’ll spend a lot of time working with patients, and the better your communication skills, the more attractive you’ll be as an employee.  In addition, networking can do a lot to help you find the best jobs at the nicest clinics – which are the ones paying the better wages or offering the most training suitable for entry level dental assisting.

4 – Keep current with technology

Dentistry is a high-tech profession, and clinics love to brag about the latest tools and techniques they have at their disposal.  You will be expected to keep up with technology as well.  If you let your skillset atrophy, you’ll have problems continuing to find employment.  Start reading those tech news sites and dental journals!

If becoming a dental assistant is for you, the Westchester School for Dental Assistants can help make it happen!  We offer one of the top dental assistant courses in the state.  Click here to learn more.