Dental assisting is a great move when you are considering a career change. However, when you are making any career move, you will likely hear many opinions from many people in your life, and those opinions may not always be based on fact. Some people in your life might not understand the role of a dental assistant and try to sway your opinion with misconceptions they have about the job. If you are considering a dental assistant job, make sure you have all the correct information.Female dental assistant and female dentist working together on a patient.

Misconception #1: Dental Assisting is Boring and Tedious

Dental assisting is a lot of things, but it’s not a boring job. Instead of sitting at a desk all day, you will spend your days working with patients and dental staff. In many offices, you will interact with every patient who visits somehow. Dental assistants are often the first point of contact a patient will have, and your interaction with these patients can set the tone for their visit. When the patients have a good experience with you, you can help assuage their fears and help them understand the instructions for follow-up care. With every new patient comes a new experience, making every day new and interesting.

Misconception #2: You Don’t Need Education for this Career

There may not be a requirement to attend a formal dental assistant training program, but if you want to be a successful dental assistant, a dental assistant training program is the best way to get started. Being a dental assistant can be challenging, but you’ll also need a lot of technical knowledge to understand all the vocabulary. With a dental assisting training program, you will have a balance of coursework, clinical hours, and externships where you’ll have real experience working with patients. After a dental assisting program, you understand the ins and outs of the dental office and federal and state laws, standards, and guidelines. You’ll learn about dental technology, trends, and procedures. Dental assistants can even get certified through the Dental Assisting National Board. While there is plenty to learn on the job, getting quality training is a significant investment when starting a career as a dental assistant.

Misconception#3: It’s Difficult to Find Work as a Dental Assistant

If anyone tells you that you’ll struggle to find work as a dental assistant, particularly after a comprehensive training program, they are badly misinformed. Dental assistants are not only in high demand, but demand is still growing which is projected to continue. As more Americans access dental coverage, they seek dental care, treatments, and procedures they may have previously put off. When you combine that with a growing and aging population and new and advanced dental procedures being offered, the demand for dental offices is substantial. To make a dental office run smoothly, dentists need an entire team to manage the work. This includes dental administration staff, hygienists, and dental assistants working together to streamline the flow. If you have completed your dental assistant training, you will not have difficulty landing your first job as a dental assistant. Even better, once you’ve found that job, you’ll enjoy the excellent job security of an in-demand career.

Misconception #4: Dental Assistants Aren’t Important to the Team

One of the reasons this misconception is still out in the world is that not everyone understands exactly what a dental assistant does. Many confuse dental assistants with dental hygienists and assume anyone working with the dentist must be a hygienist. Even if they realize that dental assistants have their role, they may dismiss the importance of that role simply because they don’t understand. Dental assistants have a variety of tasks and duties to balance throughout the day, including:

  • Setting up dental exam rooms
  • Greeting, interacting with, and situating patients
  • Implementing infection control protocols
  • Scheduling follow-up or referral appointments
  • Assisting the dentist during the procedure
  • Documenting throughout the procedure
  • Educating patients to make sure they understand and feel comfortable with the procedures.

Some dental assistants will have additional administrative or clinical tasks, like scheduling, imaging, or record keeping. Dental assistants need to work with the entire office team, including front desk staff, hygienists, and dentists, to make sure that the office runs smoothly. Because of their vital place on the team, dental assistants must be excellent at multitasking, highly organized, and able to adjust and prioritize as the day unfolds.

Misconception #5: There’s No Path to Advance as a Dental Assistant

Dental assisting can be a great career, but it can also be a significant first step in the dental field. As you gain experience, you can pursue new opportunities and challenges. Some advanced certifications will allow you to have an expanded role. You can become a dental laboratory technician, a dental office manager, or an educator. Dental assistants ready to advance their careers can also look for roles in specialty practices, like dental surgery, endodontics, or orthodontics.

When considering a new career, make sure that you have all the correct information so you can make an informed decision. Rather than listening to uninformed misconceptions about dental assisting, you can look at all the advantages and decide if it’s the right move for you.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to begin a rewarding career as a dental assistant, South Florida Dental Assisting School can help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. Our hands-on training and expert instruction prepares you for a fast-paced, in-demand career in the dental field. Don’t let misconceptions hold you back—take the first step toward your future today. Contact us to learn more about our programs and enrollment options!