Dental Assistant Career Characteristics

As a dental assistant, you can expect to enjoy a clean, safe, pleasant work environment. Like other medical jobs, a career as a dental assistant requires a combination of curiosity, customer service, and a high tolerance for exposure to blood and bones.

Although you do not need a college degree to earn your license as a dental assistant, you can improve your career chances by exploring your curiosity about dentistry during high school. Classes in science, especially biology and chemistry, can prepare you to assist with complex dental procedures later in your career.

Meanwhile, business classes can help you learn the critical skills that will turn you into a valuable member of a dentist’s front office. Whether you enroll in a dentistry college or you simply pick up new skills on the job, your curious mind can help you build a strong career as a dental assistant.

To succeed in your role as a dental assistant, you must love to interact with patients. Since dentistry practices operate like any other business, the impression you make on patients determines whether they will return for follow-up visits and annual exams.

Finally, even if your career keeps you mostly in the billing department at a dental practice, you must be prepared for exposure to wounds and infections that patients bring to the office. Though you won’t encounter the kind of gore that you see on ER, a career as a dental assistant is not for the squeamish. If you can get over your natural fears and focus on helping patients, you can become an excellent dental assistant.

Related Career Resources

Dental Assistant Colleges and Schools

Dental Assistant Career Information

Dental Assistant Career Outlook & Salary Information

How to Become a Dental Assistant