Here's What You'll Need To Learn If You Want To Become A Dental Assistant

If you want to play an important role in dental care, you can become a dental assistant. As a dental assistant, you'll help a dentist give each patient quality care by assisting with different dental procedures to make each treatment more efficient and thorough. Before you start working as a dental assistant, you'll need to complete an accredited dental assistant training program to obtain the knowledge that will be required for you to do your job correctly. Here are some of the essential subjects that are included in a good dental assistant training course.

The Anatomy of the Mouth

To help a dentist give the best care possible to each patient, you'll need to know the different parts of the oral cavity. Your dental assistant training course should teach you about the molars, incisors, and other types of teeth in the mouth and the specific locations and functions of each tooth group. You'll also learn about the gums and other soft tissues of the mouth.

Dental Conditions and Treatments

Different conditions can affect the health of teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth, and your dental assistant training course will provide in-depth information about these conditions and how they can occur. You'll also develop the skills that are needed to assist a dentist with treating these conditions. Some of the different conditions you can expect to learn more about include:

• Tooth cavities
• Damaged teeth
• Root canal infections
• Oral cancer
• Gum diseases (periodontitis and gingivitis)  

Dental Equipment Sterilization

Dental assistants are often responsible for cleaning dental equipment between patients to avoid spreading bacteria and viruses that are linked to serious illnesses. You'll learn how to wipe down each piece of equipment correctly and be taught about the sterilization products that you should use to get every dental tool as clean as possible. The types of cleaning cloths and equipment used to dry the instruments will also be covered in your learning.

Clerical Duties

In addition to assisting dentists with cleanings and procedures, dental assistants need to know a variety of clerical skills to help the offices stay in operation. You'll learn about the importance of filing patient records properly and how to assist the front office staff with patient billing. If you end up working in a smaller dentist's office, you may also need to assist with answering phones, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients. A dental assistant training program can help prepare you to handle these responsibilities.

These are just a few of the key subjects that an accredited dental assistant training program can teach you. If you're eager to start working as a dental assistant, you can enroll in a dental assistant training program in your area to learn everything that you'll need to know for this position.