If you enjoy helping other people and are passionate about oral health care, a career as a Dental Assistant could be a great choice for you. You’ll prepare patients for treatment and ensure dental equipment is sterilised and ready for use. Dental Assistants help dentists and hygienists during dental treatments and may be required to use tools such as water sprays or suction devices. You might provide advice to patients about their oral health such as teeth brushing and flossing. Some Dental Assistants may be qualified to perform dental x-rays or take other radiographic images.
Dental Assistants should have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate well with patients from a range of backgrounds. You may have to calm nervous patients and speak with them about their treatments. Dental Assistants must be able to follow instructions closely and work well as part of a team. You may have to perform a range of administrative duties such as answering phone calls or making appointments.
If a career as a Dental Assistant interests you, the following courses can help you get started:
Certificate III in Dental Assisting
A Certificate III in Dental Assisting
will give you the skills you need to help dental professionals with a range of treatments. You’ll be prepared to use various dental tools and equipment and assist with dental radiography procedures. This course also covers other topics including infection control, working with diverse people and communicating in an oral health care setting. The Certificate III in Dental Assisting will also develop your administrative abilities.
Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography)
A Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting & Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Dental Radiography) is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to extend their dental assistant skills to include qualifications in dental radiography. This course will give you the skills to produce a prescribed dental radiographic image and explores the principles of radiation biology and protection in a dental setting. You’ll cover a range of topics such as infection prevention and control procedures.
Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting and Certificate IV in Dental Assisting with Oral Health Promotion Specialisation
A Dual Certificate III in Dental Assisting and Certificate IV in Dental Assisting with Oral Health Promotion Specialisation can prepare you for a career in dental assistance with a particular focus on oral health promotion. If you enjoy advising patients on the best way to care for their teeth, this could be an excellent option for you. This course will give you the skills to develop and implement individualised oral hygiene programs for your patients.
Getting started
If you’re interested in studying to become a Dental Assistant, make sure you gather information from a range of course providers before you enrol. There is usually some variation in how providers deliver their courses and it’s important you find the right course for your needs. Find out about course duration, costs, any prerequisites and the content the course will cover. Once you have all the details you can compare courses and find the best fit for you.