Northwestern College: Why Become a Dental Assistant?

Wondering if dental assisting is right for you? Tune in to learn a few of the reasons dental assistants love what they do.

3 Reasons to Become a Dental Assistant

Flexible Schedule

Many jobs in the healthcare industry require shift work that sometimes falls on holidays, over weekends or evening hours. But don’t let that deter you! Dental assistants typically keep normal business hours, giving these professionals the freedom to enjoy time with friends and family.

Not wanting something full-time? There are often part-time positions available for dental assistants. Whether you’re full- or part-time, dental assisting allows you to maintain a flexible work schedule.

Variety

Unlike many nine-to-five jobs, dental assisting offers great variety. Within the field, there are opportunities to work in specialized areas that span everything from orthodontics and oral surgery and cosmetic dentistry. Periodontics and pediatric dentistry are other specialty areas. Adding even more diversity are the various employers. Hospital clinics, traditional dental practices and public health dental offices are just a few common employers. With all of this in mind, dental assistants have the opportunity to work in many exciting environments.

Relationships

No matter where a dental assistant works, their role is solely patient facing. In many cases, these professionals work with a diverse population that spans many generations, cultures and backgrounds. As such, client interaction is one of the most rewarding aspects of this work. Some dental assistants go on to forge lifelong relationships with the patients they care for.