About Dental Assisting
What is a Dental Assistant?A dental assistant works primarily with the dentist assisting patients. The dental assistant mixes dental materials, exchanges instruments and provides oral evacuation during dental procedures. An equally important role of the chair side dental assistant is to make the patient comfortable and relaxed. He/she is a key player and takes on significant responsibility as a member of the dental healthcare team. Assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral healthcare to patients.  Duties include:
Career OutlookA career in dental assisting is very promising. Job prospects are expected to be excellent, increasing 36% from 2008 - 2018, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. Experienced assistants can make up to $22 per hour. National average wage is $15.95 per hour. Utah average wage is $12.77 per hour.* -U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupation Handbook 2010 - 2011 edition *Dental Assisting School of Utah does not guarantee these wages. |
Dental assisting is the best career we know! Here are others who think the way we do...
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"My first career was as a licensed cosmetologist. Although I love doing hair, dental assisting gives me the variety and stability I need. I don't have to stress anymore about making tips or working nights and weekends. And it provides a nice steady paycheck. Money isn't the only reason I love it. One day a patient just started weeping because she was so pleased with her new smile. It changed her life. And I helped to do it! It feels so good to help people in this way. Dental assisting is a lot of fun and before I know it, the work week is over and I have a three day weekend to enjoy with my family." - Jill, West Jordan
"Why did I get into Dental Assisting? Because I wanted to become a dentist so I decided to learn everything about the field that I could. I love the people that I work with. Everyone is so nice and friendly. I love my job so much that I've decided I'm satisfied right where I'm at as an assistant." - Kristin, Taylorsville
"Going into dental assisting right after high school was the best decision for me. I was able to get a great full-time job right away. It allowed me to grow, expand my skills and increase my earnings along the way. It has also given me the flexibility I need as I started a family and my needs changed. Today I work 2 days a week in the front office; this allows me to be with my kids the rest of the week while still supplementing my family's income nicely. It's been a very rewarding career for me. Then years into it and I still love it!" - Andrea, West Valley City