What is a dental assistant?
A dental assistant is an oral health professional who provides a range of preventive and educational services to the public. A dental assistant is an integral member of a health care team. The dental assistant may work in a private dental office, a community health program, a business setting or an educational institution. A dental assistant is taught in five main areas: clinical chair side assisting, patient education, intra-oral preventative services, intra-oral restorative services and business administration. Registration is mandatory with the Manitoba Dental Association.
What do dental assistant do?
The dental assistant may provide only those services for which they have been formally trained and which are within the scope of practice as designated by the regulatory body (MDA). The dental assistant is ethically bound to apply the principles of accepted current dental practice in the delivery of dental health services.
Dental assistants work in a bright, clean environment. Generally, their work area is near the dental chair where instruments, materials and medicaments are prepared according to each procedure. They wear personal protective equipment including gloves, masks and safety glasses. As a member of the dental health team the dental assistant may assist in four-handed dentistry, take x-rays, take impressions, sterilize and provide preventive services. They can also work as receptionists and office managers. The opportunities are as diverse as the individual dental assistant. Expanded duty courses can qualify dental assistants to practice in other specialty areas such as orthodontics.
Most dental assistants have a 32 to 40 hour work week, which may include evenings and /or weekends.
What attributes are needed?
Dental assisting can be a career for you if you enjoy working closely with people. Good hand-eye coordination is necessary. Good grooming and good health are essential for all health professionals. This health care practitioner must possess excellent communication skills as well as the ability to work effectively in a team environment. The profession requires that dental assistants have a genuine interest in people.
Education, where?
In Manitoba there are three training institution: RRC, RRC Satellite Campus in Winkler, College of the North and CDI. There are certain entrance requirements and each individual institution should be contacted to find out what these are.
Dental assisting is a one year program. In addition to regular examinations given as part of the required educational program, all applicants must satisfactorily complete the National Dental Assisting Board Examination (NDAEB). This examination is taken after the educational requirements have been met and is required for licensure/registration in the majority of the Canadian provinces. Professional development is on going and necessary for registration.
Job Outlook
Dental assisting holds an exciting future. There are positions available across the province in rural and urban areas. The ongoing expansion of specialty modules (i.e. orthodontic module, crowns/restorations module and scaling module) opens new opportunities for registered dental assistants in this growing profession.
Employment Opportunities
- general or specialty private practice
- Regional Health Authority
- community health
- teaching or assisting in educational facilities
- Canadian Armed Forces
- dental product sales
- dental practice management/administration
- dental insurance companies
- dental lab
- travel opportunities may also be available through various international organizations
What does it take to be registered?
You must contact the regulatory body, Manitoba Dental Association and provide the following information:
- Academic transcript
- NDAEB certificate (National Dental Assisting Examining Board)
- Proof of having graduated, taken retraining or having held a license to practice dental assisting.
