5 Reasons Why You Should Go Into A Career In Dental Assisting

With the economic downturn that is happening all over the world

, it is just natural that more people are looking for options to increase their earning capacity - through either additional part-time jobs or completely changing careers. If you are one of them, why don't you consider a career in dental assisting which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says is one of the most lucrative and in-demand jobs in the future.

Advantages of Working as a Dentist Assistant

Booming career option. As mentioned earlier, according to the BLS projections, the need for dental assistants is expected to grow by 36% within 2008-2018 and this is what you should take advantage of. As more dentists go into private practices instead of working in government facilities, the more assistants a dental office would need.

Compensation and Benefits. Dental assistants with no professional experience receive a minimum per hour rate of $9, while those who have been in the dental office assisting industry can earn as much as $15 an hour. If you work as a dental office assistant with specialization on complex procedures such as in orthodontics and periodontal dental assisting, among others, you can command an hourly rate of more than $20.

In addition, if you like going on vacations and have plans of attaining higher educational credentials, some dental offices provide those perks as part of their employee compensation and benefits package on top of regular benefits such as sick leaves and medical and dental reimbursement. Bonuses and profit sharing are not standard employee benefits and largely depend on a dental office's employee package although some offices institute such job benefits.

Mobility in the job. If you do not mind working for several dental offices at a time, you might want to consider becoming a travelling dental assistant. This allows for job mobility and definite increase in salary potential.

Plenty of job prospects in any State. The need for dental office assistants is not localized in one particular State alone. Thus, if you intend to move to another State, chances of finding a job as an assistant is still high. What you need to check though is the State's certification and licensure requirements for practicing dentist office assistants because these vary per State.

Career advancement and options. Most dentist assistants start as a general dental assistant doing tasks such as chairside assisting and minor office procedures. However, with further education on dental assisting, you may soon find yourself assisting dentists on complex procedures paving the way for becoming a specialized dental assistant handling cosmetic makeovers and implants.

Some of these professionals become dental office managers while some opt to pursue higher education and become dental hygienists, dental radiographers, or dental office assisting instructors.

As you can see, financial and career opportunities are aplenty, and what is lacking is the number of practitioners to fill up the open positions. Therefore, check out your nearest community colleges, vocational schools, or universities to jumpstart your career as a dental assistant.

by: Glenda N. Fowler

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