Training To Be A Dental Assistant In Fresno California
If you live in Fresno, California you have probably noticed the plethora of dental offices that are surrounding the area. And with these offices comes a need for qualified and professional dental assistants. In almost all cases, a dental office cannot properly run without at least one dental assistant on board. And it is a fact that Fresno Dental Assistants are needed just as much as any other state-run offices. Many people may find that the field of dentistry is fascinating and can be very rewarding. Quite a large number of dental assistants will actually go on to become dental hygienists. If you are interested in becoming a dental assistant, you may want to know what their duties would be in the office and how to become one.
Backbone of the Dental Office
The dental assistant is one of the main backbones of the dental office. The assistant will set up dental operatories with equipment and dental materials, seat the patient, assist the dentist with the particular procedure, clean the operatory, and sterilize the equipment that was used. A dental assistant will almost always be on their feet, unless they are assisting with a procedure. There are many different dental offices that are in the Fresno, California area. Fresno Dental Assistants may choose to work in a pediatric office, an oral surgery establishment, or an orthodontic office. If you are new to the trade, you may want to start off in a general dentistry office.
Education is Key to Success as a Dental Assistant
You will need to look for reputable and licensed Dental Assistant schools in your area. You may choose to work in a dental office without any training, however, most offices would like their entry-level workers to have a bit of dental knowledge before taking the job. Dental Assistant schools will educate you on facial anatomy, dental materials, and dental procedures. This particular course would be considered Dental Assisting 101 and it normally will take a few months to a year to complete.
If you would like to further your career and your salary range, you may want to take a course on dental radiology. All dental assistants in California must have a state license in order to take x-rays. Some Dental Assisting 101 courses include radiology within the class, but you may have to take a separate course for this. A separate course may take you about three or four months to complete. You may even decide to take two more courses to become a registered dental assistant in California. These particular courses will take you an additional year to complete. Most dental offices require their dental assistants to have a radiology license, however, not all offices require their assistants to be registered.
Dental assistants are always in demand and you will find that you may have a job long before you even graduate from school. Because so many people are going straight to dental hygiene school, there is actually a shortage of qualified dental assistants for the busy offices that can be found in the Fresno, California area. Choosing this particular career path may be the smartest thing you could possibly do.