Education in San Antonio

In 2002 there were 266,000 vacancies for the post of dental assistants. As majority of them were from dentists. A few of the vacancies were with physicians and some were in hospitals and educational institutions.

A good 30% of them work in different offices, on a part time basis in all of them. The vacancies are likely to touch the figure of 362,000 by 2016 and therefore no can claim that there is no demand in the market for dental assistants.

Dentist’s job will be lightened by dental assistant so that they will concentrate to work on more crucial and complicated ways to execute. The DAs take care of patient well being, dental patient’s documentation and duty in laboratory.

Other duties and responsibilities include interaction with patients, fixing and confirming their appointments, and receiving them when they come for treatment. Sending bills to patients, receiving and recording payments and also looking after the dental stores and stocking of dental materials are also form part of their duties.

The environment of the working place is well lighted and clean. The DA has to work close to the dentist, arranging instruments and other things and also passing them on to the dentist when asked by him. Working hours are like that of an office job that may be range between 35 to 40 hours per week. However, depending on the pressure of work some may be required to work in the evenings perhaps even on Saturday.

Courses for qualifying as general assistant are many and it can be completed in a year or even less. However, only after starting work you can learn more by practical experience.

About 13000 jobs are offered every year on an annual salary for the post dental assistant is about $30,220. The minimum hourly wage is about $8.45 and the maximum $19.41. Mostly the average hourly earnings are in the range of $10.35 to $16.20.

All DAs get dental coverage and some get even paid vacation.

See more of this author’s writing about topics like become a dental assistant and dental hygienist schools.