Education experience of a dental assistant

To prepare for a career in dental assisting, high school courses in the areas of biology, chemistry and health are helpful for many students. Additionally, ADA-accredited dental assistant training programs and junior and community colleges offer more advanced and focused courses to prepare for this career.

But perhaps the most valuable training will come on the job through practical experience in dental schools, clinics or dental offices. Since many dentists have unique working styles, a period of on-the-job training will help the dental assistant get comfortable with his or her work environment.

Dental assisting also serves as valuable preparation to branch out to other fields in the dental industry. To change career concentrations within the dental field, dental assistants will likely need additional education, but the hands-on experience that dental assisting offers is valuable and makes the candidate competitive for other jobs. Some dental assistants go on to become office managers, dental assisting instructors, dental product sales representatives or insurance claims processors for dental insurance companies. A dental assisting career can lead to many exciting destinations!