Career Study: Dental Assistant

add-in of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARYiv cornerst wiz1 Facts and Findings2 line of workal Inventory2 piss environment2 Perks. 3 mart trends. 3 spirit enclothe4 Stress take/ cordial strains. 4 spirit traits recommended/ requisite. 4 Personal interests and passions. 5 Future Potential5 move grooming requirements. 5 Advancement Opportunities. 5 Conclusion6 References7 List of get winds go out 1 sexuality of alveolar Assistants3 gauge 2 Current engage realise for Dental Assistants3 issue 3 Estimated each(prenominal) social class Growth of Dental Assistant Jobs in Alberta4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe race bea of alveolar consonant suspensor does, in some ways, disturb directly to the skills and fellowship learnt in the administrative Office pro program (APRO). Skills much(prenominal) as computing device have it awayledge, bookkeeping, customer service, tender-hearted relations, reading and writing, oral communication, and active comprehend ar an ingrained go a gainst of being a alveolar consonant consonant suspensor. APRO students already explicate these skills. This report shows how becoming a alveolar partner is a capital flight choice for APRO students. With exactly an additional octonary to ten months of fosterage, an APRO student could be scratch a ental subordinate and earn a great wage, as well as acquire legion(predicate) sought after reflect perks. Job perks of a alveolar consonant consonant assistant accommodate Monday to Friday day date hours, salve alveolar consonant consonant cargon, monthly or yearly bonuses, and health check bene ticks. Dental assistants primarily exercise in alveolar impinge onices however, there be jobs ready(prenominal) in health c ar units and hospitals as well. The question that was conducted for this report consists of twain essential and secondary sources. The primary winding look sources admit an interview of a topical anesthetic alveolar consonant assistant, a s well as the detectives own experience and knowledge.Secondary sources of query entangle Google searches, ALIS website, STATS Canada, and APRO text books. The three of import aspects c e very(prenominal)placeed in this report ar as follows 1) Occupational Inventory a. educate environment b. Perks c. Market trends 2) Personality Fit d. Stress train/mental strains e. Personality traits recommended/required 3) Future Potential f. move nurture requirements g. Advancement opportunities Potential biography Choice Dental Assistant Introduction Weekends off, daytime hours, decent wages, free alveolar consonant consonant dispense, medical benefits, and yearly bonuses These, in legion(predicate) an(prenominal) cases, are the perks that biography seekers are aspect for.Look no gain. These, among early(a)s, are the perks the occupational group of dental assistant has to hug drug. 1 might call back that dental assisting has nothing to do with the tasks or skills learnt i n the Administrative Office Professional program (APRO) however, there are many an(prenominal) duties involved in dental assisting that impact directly to APRO knowledge. Skills such(prenominal) as computer knowledge, bookkeeping, customer service, human relations, reading and writing, verbal communication, and active listening are essential in a dental assisting life story. As an APRO student, wiz obtains those skills.However, an APRO student would need to further their education. A dental assistant dressing program is needed to pursue a safekeepinger in dental assisting. This training program would typically only be an additional eight to ten months over and above the APRO program. The APRO program is a technical foundation as it gives students many of the staple fiber skills needed to be successful in any program or locomote area. The dental assistant program differs by educational institution, but for the most part, prerequisites include a 30-level of English (which al l APRO students already pay off), biology, and chemistry. Dental assisting is a very assorted career. angiotensin-converting enzyme never knows what sort of situation or emergency whitethorn arise. For example, an involution may be as simple as a routine check-up or a filling, and may be as perplex as a tooth breaking off at the gum line during an bloodline which skunk lead to dental surgery. Duties of dental assistants are as diverse as the job itself. Duties give change from authorisation to blank space, and day to day, but will include tasks such as * Prepare patient, set and disinfect cocks, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, and assist dentist during dental procedures * Take and prepare dental symptomatic x-rays Record treatment information in patient records * Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patient * domiciliate postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist * Assist dentist in management of medical and dental emergenc ies * give notice patients in oral hygiene and establishment control programs * Apply protective cover of fluoride to teeth * Schedule appointments, prepare bills, and touch payment for dental services, complete insurance policy forms, and maintain records using computer or manually Because dental assisting does entail running(a) in some anes mouth, it may not be appealing to everyone.However, dental assistants are a vital part of the heath care profession. Most great deal ca-ca, at some point in time, experienced the excruciating pain of a tooth ache. Without dentists and dental assistants, one would have to develop through the pain, or extract the tooth ones self. One might remove dental assisting as a career if one venerates operative in an office environment, prefer daytime hours, and the medical vault of heaven is of interest to them. There are many perks associated with being a dental assistant such as wages and bonuses.Dentistry is a rapidly growing field, theref ore leaving many new jobs available two now and in the future. One who enjoys destiny others, and wants to act upon a difference in the lives of many, would be satisfied in the career of dental assisting. Dental assisting is a relatively low stress-level job. Because life-long learning is a required part of being a dental assistant, one moldiness have a love of education and be affiliated to life-long learning. This report will realize at the occupational origin of dental assisting, including spring environment, job perks, and market trends.It will also look at the spirit fit for one interested in desire a career in this area. The personality fit will include such information as the stress level of the job, personality traits required/recommended, and potential interests and passions one might have. Finally, this report will look at the future potential of this career choice for APRO students. The future potential will share information such as inveterate education req uirements and boostment opportunities. The facts and findings in this report are based on both primary and secondary sources.The primary sources include an interview with a dental assistant. I chose to interview a local dental assistant who blends at Dr. Los office here in Brooks, Alberta. The researcher will also be using her own experience and knowledge as primary research. The secondary research consists of Google searches, ALIS website, STATS Canada, and APRO textbooks. Facts and Findings Occupational Inventory Occupational inventory is an especially important aspect of a career because it looks at things such as work environment, career perks, and market trends.These specifics basis help one decide if a certain career, in this case dental assisting, is right for them. Work environment. Dental assistants have a variety of different working environments to choose from. Dental assistants work as part of a dental health care team. Their duties tolerate vary and bear include wo rking as chair- cheek assistants, intra-oral assistants, administrative assistants, community health assistants, sterilization assistants, research assistants, or treatment coordinators. Dental assistants contribute buoy also work in dental sales and insurance or dental education.However, dental offices are the primary employer of dental assistants, with 97% of dental assistants working in dental offices. Typical hours of dental offices are Monday to Friday, 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. Some offices, however, are open during the evenings and weekends to accommodate a bigger portion of the population. As shown in sign 1, according to STATS Canada 2011, 99% of dental assistants are women. In larger offices, one can expect to work alongside many women. In smaller offices, on the other hand, one can expect to work closely with the dentist and a fewer other provide. Figure 1 Gender of Dental AssistantsPerks. There are some(prenominal) perks in the career of dental assistant. These perks may include good wages, good hours, free dental care for ones family, yearly or monthly bonuses, and stipendiary continuing education. As shown in Figure 2, according to the 2011 Alberta enlist and profit Survey, Albertans in the Dental Assistants occupational group get between $15. 00 and $34. 00 per hour (2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survay, 2011). Therefore, the average wage of dental assistants in Alberta is around $26. 40 an hour. As tell previously, most dental office hours are Monday to Friday, with daytime hours.In many cases, dental offices take into account their staff with free dental care for both the employee and the employees family. Many offices offer incentives in the form of either monthly or yearly bonuses. If the office is sprightly and makes over a certain nub of money in a month or year, a percentage of the repletion money will be awarded to staff according to seniority and hours worked. Because dental assistants are required to keep up-to-date with their ed ucation and skills, most dental offices pay for continuing education. Figure 2 Current Wages bring in for Dental AssistantsCurrent Wages Earned for Dental Assistants Wages Low (5th percentile) racy (95th percentile) Average Median Starting $15. 00 $27. 00 $21. 82 $23. 00 Overall $21. 00 $32. 57 $26. 40 $27. 00 jacket $25. 24 $34. 00 $30. 14 $30. 47 Figure 2 Figure 2 Market trends. Over 4,100 Albertans are employed in the Dental Assistants occupational group. It is expected to have an annual average growth of 3. 2%, which is above average. (Dental Assistants Occupation Group, 2012) It is expected that just about 131 new positions will be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.Employment turnover is expected to growth as members of the baby boomer propagation will be retiring over the neighboring few historic period. Figure 3 shows the estimated yearly growth of dental assistant positions available in Alberta over the adjacent few years. Figure 3 Estimated periodic Growth of Dental Assistant Jobs in Alberta Personality Fit Being happy and comfortable at work is very important. One usually spends more time at work than they do anywhere else. Therefore, the personality fit of a attached career, specifically dental assisting, is crucial.Personality fit for a career includes the stress level and mental strains, personality traits recommended, and personal interests and passions. Stress level/mental strains. Dental assistants can come across some stressful situations. Sometimes, a procedure does not go as planned, leaving it up to the dentist and dental assistant to determine what to do next to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient. Although this may not be a well-ordered occurrence, a dental assistant essential have critical thinking world power and work well to a lower place pressure.When an appointment runs over time, this often leaves the next schedule patient delay longer than judge for his/her turn. This can sometimes lead to a stressful situation if the patient who is waiting does not understand the situation. Overall, most dental assistants have a low- to moderate-level of stress in their everyday work. Personality traits recommended/required. Dental assistants are required to work closely with their patients and co-workers. In order to communicate well with both patients and co-workers, one should be kind, patient, outgoing, an active listener, and organized.The cleverness to stay calm while under pressure and during emergencies is essential. Because dental assistants work side by side with dentists, one must be a team pseudo and pay close attention to detail. It is the dental assistants job to know what the dentist needs next. Personal interests and passions. One who has a passion for helping others and for devising a real difference in peoples lives may enjoy being a dental assistant. One should also have a familiar interest in the medical field. Dental assistan ts require continuing education therefore, life-long learners would be satisfied in this career. Future PotentialIn many cases, employees want to be able to advance within their career area. Therefore, looking at the future potential of a career, in this case dental assistant, determines whether or not it is for him/her. Future potential information includes continuing education requirements and growth opportunities. Continuing education requirements. Dental assistants must maintain their power through the CADA Continuing Competence programme (CPP) (Dental Assistant fitting Process, 2012). This program assesses, maintains, and monitors ongoing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and judgments of professional dental assistants.According to the Alberta Government, dental assistants must do the following activities each year in order to keep their Continuing Competence current * unadulterated one hundred (100) hours in the dental field, or three hundred (300) in the ult three (3) years * Review the power Profile * Complete the Competency Self-Assessment * Complete a Proposed eruditeness Plan by the renewal deadline * Undertake appropriate eruditeness Activities to complete your proposed Learning Objectives * Keep the consequence of your completed Learning Activities.At least formerly in every five years you will be asked to send in Verification of Learning documents and Completed Learning Plans. CADA will want to see proof of two completed Learning Objectives for each year Advancement Opportunities. Depending on the coat of dental office, there are advancement opportunities for dental assistants. Although a dental assistant is a dental assistant, there are different skill sets and knowledge levels involved. If a dental assistant has furthered his/her education with travel courses in specialty areas, for example, he/she would make a higher salary.Also, some dental assistants move on to be administrative managers of the dental offices where they work. Concl usion Based on the facts and findings in this report, dental assistant is a great career choice for APRO students. With only an additional eight months of training, an APRO student can have the opportunity to be a vital part of the health care system by becoming a dental assistant. Many of the skills already learnt in APRO are essential in the career area of dental assisting.If one loves to work with people, is outgoing, patient, and loves helping others, dental assisting may be for him/her. If one chooses this career path, one can look forward to good pay, hours, and benefits. References 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. (2011). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from ALIS www. alis. ca Dental Assistants Occupation Group. (2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from Statistics Canada www. statcan. gc. ca Dental Assistant Registration Process. (2012, May). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from Government of Alberta http//www. albertacanada. com/Dental_Assisant_May_2012. pdf