For a student seeking a career with strong communication skills, who loves science and is people-oriented, employment as a dental assistant is recommended for an individual with these interests and talents. Dentists need assistants to organize materials and instruments, to take x-rays and provide other specialized dental services, and to play an important role in providing comfort to patients before and after treatment. A dental assistant career is an appropriate future for an individual interested in a hands-on, customer-oriented and peaceful work environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In order to become a dental assistant, a student must extend their education after high school. Therefore, it is recommended that a high school student planning a career as a dental assistant takes certain courses that will help him. “During high school the student should take Computer Fundamentals, Health Education, Safety and First Aid” (“Dental Assistants”). After high school, “most students obtain their education through community college, trade schools, technical colleges, and universities” (“American Dental Association”). When the student takes courses for their career as a dental assistant, they should take courses in health, biology, and chemistry. Most dental assistant programs take up to eleven months. However, the minimum time to complete a dental assistant program is usually nine months. That said, “In a two-year program at community and technical colleges, students can earn an associate's degree” (“Resse”). After completing and attending these courses, the dental assistant will take an exam that evaluates knowledge to become a certified dental assistant. “Most dental assistants who choose to become nationally certified take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam” (“American Dental Association”). It is highly recommended for a student to take the exam, as it will help him later in his career. Education is very important in the career of a dental assistant. The more education the student gets, the higher his or her chance of finding a job. Students wishing to pursue a dental career must demonstrate superior communication skills, be reasonable in problem solving, self-management, and work well with others. Most dental assistants need to have most of these skills to be able to listen to patients' questions and be able to express ideas clearly. A dental assistant should be able to combine different information, draw a conclusion and notice when another colleague is doing something wrong with the patient. A dental assistant should be able to stay focused and not get distracted while learning new information by studying and working with them. While working with a colleague or patient, the dental assistant should be able to find ways to help him and convince him to try new things. The dental assistant should also be "aware of the reaction of others and understand why they react the way they do" ("Dental Assistant Job Description - Part 1."). Teaching is one of the most valuable skills a dental assistant can possess as they will have to teach the patient proper hygiene. The skills and qualifications included in most dental assistant careers are communication,teamwork and problem solving. The job of a dental assistant primarily involves preparing patients before they undergo dental exams and after they complete the exam. “The dental assistant can be found working in the office, in the laboratory or next to the dentist” (“Resse”). They are also responsible for giving the dentist the appropriate tools and keeping the patient's medical records on hand. The dental assistant not only prepares patients for exams, they comfort patients if necessary. Very often, before the patient undergoes treatment, the dental assistant will ask him or her about dental health. The dental assistant teaches correct hygiene for dental care. Many times, after the patient has finished the exam, the dental assistant will be in charge of scheduling the patient's next visit. The dental assistant not only assists the dentist by passing the instruments to him during an examination, but is also responsible for answering all patients' questions, sterilizing the instruments and ensuring that they are placed in an easily accessible place, preparing the instruments room where the exam will take place and taking care to schedule the patients' next visit. A dental assistant also has additional duties as part of his job in addition to his regular duties. “A dental assistant may also apply a local dental anesthetic, may clean teeth, apply dental sealant and fluoride” (“Dental Assistant Job Description and Duties”). The dental assistant not only has responsibilities in the office with the dentist, but is also sufficient in the laboratory. “Others may have laboratory duties that include making casts of teeth or temporary crowns” (“Resse”). A dental assistant does not only assist the dentist in the examination room. The assistant has many tasks, from cleaning patients' teeth to making tooth coffins. Dental practices offer comfortable indoor environments to work. However, a dental assistant doesn't have much space to work, so they work in very small spaces and are always close to other people. A dental assistant wears protective clothing to prevent exposure to disease, x-rays and radiation. Sometimes they have to make decisions that will affect the people around them. They can work part-time or full-time. Sometimes they move often, so they don't stay in the same dental office and work in different places. Some dental offices work evenings and Saturdays to accommodate longer hours, so a dental assistant may also need to work those hours. A dental assistant's salary depends greatly on location, education, and experience. “Dental assistants earn a salary equal to that of other healthcare personnel with similar training and experience such as medical assistants, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, veterinary technicians, and pharmacy assistants” (“American Dental Association”). The average annual pay for a dental assistant is usually around thirty-four thousand five hundred. However, in Oklahoma the average salary is twenty-nine thousand three hundred and ninety. There are many reasons why a dental assistant's salary varies. “Location affects dental assistant salaries more than most other factors” (“Dental Assistant Job Description and Duties”). In addition to location affecting salary, training also affects salary because employers are willing to offer a higher salary to make their opportunity more attractive. Obtaining a dental certification also plays an important role in a dental assistant's salary. Certified dental assistants are usually more and more in demand than.