Dental Assistant program at Stillwater College of Allied Health is 7 months long course that will prepare you for entry level dental assisting position. Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists and are responsible for a wide range of tasks in the dental office, ranging from patient care to administrative duties to laboratory functions. As a dental assistant student you will learn to:

• Sterilize dental instruments and equipment for each patient
• Organize and lay out instruments for dentist's use
• Handle instruments and other materials to dentist during procedures
• Take x-rays of patients' teeth
• Take impressions of patients' teeth for casts
• Use suction and swabs to keep patients' mouths clear and dry during procedures
• Apply topical anesthetic to patients' mouths
• Remove stitches
• Obtain patients' dental records
• Question patients about their medical history and record the information for dentist's reference
• Advise patients on dental care
• Make patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
• Schedule appointments, maintain records, send bills, answer phones, order supplies and other office tasks

Employment

According to United States Department of labor (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm) employment is expected to increase much faster than average; job prospects are expected to be excellent.
Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants or have employed fewer, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or more assistants. In addition, as dentists' workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures.

Job Prospects

Job prospects should be excellent, as dentists continue to need the aid of qualified dental assistants. There will be many opportunities for entry-level positions, but some dentists prefer to hire experienced assistants, those who have completed a dental-assisting program, or have met State requirements to take on expanded functions within the office.
In addition to job openings due to employment growth, some job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons.

Earnings

Median annual wages of dental assistants were $32,380 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,980 and $38,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,150.
Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), 86 percent of Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) reported receiving paid vacation from their employers, and more than half of CDAs received health benefits.