Dental+Assistant


 * Category: Health Science **


 * Career ** : Dental Assistant

====** Job Description: **Dental Assistants help dentist examine and treat patients. Their duties include preparing the patient for treatment, passing instruments during treatment procedures, processing dental x-rays, sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, taking impressions, making casts of teeth, maintaining patient charts, making temporary crowns and impressions, polishing patients teeth and helping to manage the office. They also assist with tasks such as scheduling appointments, treatment planning and ordering supplies. Orthodontic Assistants help dentists by placing brackets and tying wires on braces.====


 * Educational Requirements: **Certification is voluntary in Texas. Dental Assistants with on-the-job experience or training may take the national exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) or a Certified Dental Practice Management Assistant (CDPMA). Dental Assistants administering nitrous oxide must take a short course and pass a test administered by the supervising dentist. All Dental Assistants taking radiographs must be certified with the State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE)

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 * Colleges or Universities Programs of Study: ** Amarillo College, Austin Community College, Blinn College, Del Mar College, El Paso Community College, Grayson County College, Houston Community College System, Lamar State College System, Texas State technical college -Waco, Harlingen, Weatherford College. =====


 * Professional Organizations: **

$9.58 - $15.26 Yearly: $19,928 - $31,744
 * Salary Range: ** Hourly:

Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants or have employed fewer, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or more assistants. In addition, as dentists' workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures.
 * Future Job Outlook ** :

http://www.texashotjobs.org/12C08_b.aspx
 * Source: **[|**http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm#outlook**]