Dental assistants help trained dentists by making teeth molds, isolating teeth, cleaning dental instruments and acting as a second pair of hands. There is no formal education requirements for dental assistants besides a diploma or GED, and it is possible to enter into the job right out of high school. Many dental assistants go to community colleges and vocational schools for their training. Graduates of a program may be preferred over those with little to no experience. Dental assistants have rewarding careers. They work directly with patients and are knowledgeable on most of the workings of a dental office. Jobs can pay well and come with consistent hours. Now is a great time to consider your training options!
Dental assistants who wish to perform more advanced functions, such as radiological procedures, are required to attain certification by most states. The examination is referred to as the Certified Dental Assistant Examination. In addition to requiring licensure for dental assistants to perform certain functions, many states also place restrictions on the functions dental assistants can perform. Many state programs also require dental assistants to have a continuing education to keep up with advances in practices and technology.

Even after completing a certificate and a dental assisting program on-the-job training will be required. In on-the-job training, would-be dental assistants obtain skills and experience that can only come through working with patients and dentists in real life situations.  Also, on-the-job training will yield office-specific information, such as where patient files and dental instruments are kept.

In practice, dental assistants most often perform the role of prepping patients for procedure. Qualified assistants may perform x-rays or take molds of teeth. Dental assistants perform fluoride treatments as ordered by a dentist, and may apply topical numbing agents or remove sutures. They clear work space in the mouth by controlling saliva and remove excess cement in the filling process. Dental assistants must be calm and organized and familiar with common procedures and how to act in an emergency. Most dental assistants work thirty-five to forty hours a week with nights and weekends very rarely, if ever, required. While opportunities for advancement are rare without further education, pay raises and expansion of duties with more experience are common. Dental assistants with years of experience and training may also take on office administrative duties and training of newer assistants, resulting in a form of advancement.

Job prospects are rated as extremely good, with the industry expected to grow. Dental practices of the past has resulted in the aging population retaining a greater amount of teeth that will need additional care in the coming years, and preventive practices for the young are expected to make up an equally large chunk of the industry.