The Dental Assistant Career Outlook in Dallas, Texas

This comprehensive guide will cover the ins and outs of a Dental Assistant Career including the expected salary and registered dental assistant schools in Dallas, Texas.

Dental Assistant Career Overview

During one’s lifetime, he/she may change careers around 6 times. This shows the level of dissatisfaction that people experience with their jobs.

A dental assistant career could be the change you’ve been looking for! Working in this field will give you the deep satisfaction you need, especially when you see the positive impact you’re making on other people’s lives.

Of course, you don’t have to throw everything away to chase this goal. In fact, you can take dental assistant courses during your free time (e.g., weekends, evenings) while maintaining your current job.

What is a Dental Assistant?

To begin with, a Texas dental assistant is a healthcare professional who works closely with dentists. Your job will be to improve the efficiency of the dental office and conduct a number of tasks.

Primarily, you will focus on providing dental care for patients and ensuring that the office is functioning optimally.

To start working as a registered dental assistant, you need the proper degree from one of the dental schools in Dallas, Texas (more on that later).

The Challenges of Becoming a Dental Assistant

Similar to other career paths, dental assisting comes with its unique pros and cons. One aspect that some people find irrelevant whereas others consider being a deal-breaker is the sights and smells you witness in a dental office. Another thing that some people find annoying is the noise.

Your job in the dental field also includes ensuring communication between colleagues and patients. Therefore, you should at least have decent communication skills (this could be a learning process). Compared to other careers, these tiny obstacles are just that; tiny!

Aside from these hiccups, your job as a dental assistant requires the following:

Speaking to patients when they arrive and ensuring they feel comfortable
Asking patients about their medical history
Aiding the dentist to perform different procedures
Ensuring that the dental equipment is sterile
Following proper instructions to prevent infections
Helping patients understand the steps of the procedure
Taking dental X-rays of patients
Taking impressions of teeth for molds
Handling office organization, including taking appointments
Maintaining inventory supplies

In summary, we know that this list of tasks may look intimidating; however, our dental assistant academy in Dallas will ensure that you have the proper training before you join the working force. Also, the salary of a dental assistant in Texas is quite rewarding.

The Pros of Becoming a Dental Assistant

If the previous section intimidated you, cheer up! Now, it’s time to cover the perks of working as a registered dental assistant in Texas.

The most important aspect of a dental assisting career is flexibility. If you have a busy social life, this may be the perfect fit for you. You can apply for part-time or full-time positions, which works great for people with a family or those who are planning to start one.
The free time you get while working this job will let you focus on other aspects of your life. This includes family, hobbies, and side-projects. Many times, a poor career choice is a reason why some couples break up or get a divorce (keep that in mind).
Each year, dental schools in Texas, receive more and more demand. This is in response to the steadily increasing opportunities in the dental field. According to statistics, the career outlook for dental assistants is set to increase by 19% from 2016 to 2026.
If you decide one day that working as a dental assistant is not enough anymore, you can always get more training and education to explore more advanced positions. Options include a dental office manager, dental hygienist, and dental salesperson.
Working this job in the dental field comes with great satisfaction. Knowing that you are helping people can be very rewarding, especially when the patient is grateful and appreciative.
The salary of a registered dental assistant is around $45,770. However, that’s just the average since experienced workers can get up to $70,000.

Why should you become a dental assistant?

After reading the first few sections, you probably have an idea of what to expect from a dental assistant career. So, why should you follow this career path and not others? In reality, dental assistants face many difficulties and challenges in their line of work. However, nothing worthwhile comes easily, right? The flexible nature of this job makes it appealing to people. Many single parents choose dental assisting because of this feature. Raising a child while working can be very difficult, which is why enrolling in a dental school in Dallas, Texas, might be the first step towards a fulfilling life. Additionally, you will feel rewarded every time you help a patient get better. Finally, the salary is above average compared to similar careers.

Dental Assistant Salary
How Much Do Dental Assistants Make?

Reports place dental assisting as the 20–25 best healthcare support jobs. Over the past few years, the salary of dental assistants increased considerably. For instance, the median salary in 2017 was around $37,160. Today, it’s over $45,000.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 64,600 jobs will be open between 2016 and 2026. That’s an employment growth of 19.5%.

What is the Difference Between a Dental Assistant and a Dental Hygienist?

People often confuse between working as a dental assistant and as a dental hygienist.

In reality, it’s all in the names. A dental hygienist is responsible for cleaning and scaling the teeth of patients. This does not fall under the responsibility of a dental assistant career.

The second major difference is the duration of studies. To become a dental hygienist, you require more education and training. On average, it takes 9–12 months to become a registered dental assistant in Texas. Dental hygienists, on the other hand, undergo training for at least 2 years.

The Average Working Hours of Dental Assistants

We mentioned above that you can apply for a full-time position as a dental assistant. This means working regular hours – Monday through Friday, from 9 to 5.

Note that some practices may have slightly different working hours.

What’s certain, though, is that the vast majority of practices do not work on weekends, which should give you some peace of mind. Moreover, clinics often close before 5 PM. You will also get holidays off, so no need to worry about working on Christmas day.

As for working part-time, the hours can change dramatically from one practice to another.

How Do You Become a Dental Assistant in Texas?

As you may expect, becoming a dental assistant requires a degree. This is a medical practice that involves aiding in complicated procedures and optimizing office functions.

What’s the first step to becoming a registered dental assistant? Well, enrolling in one of the best dental assistant schools in Texas.

Our school, at Dental Replacements Training Academy, will ensure that you get a top-notch, personal, hands-on learning experience. You will learn all the necessary skills to excel in this field. You can also apply for online courses if you have a busy schedule. As we said earlier, you don’t have to leave your current job while training for a position in dental assisting.

Today, our online classes provide a high-quality teaching experience to let passionate people follow their dreams of joining the dentistry world.

Before you make this decision, however, let us cover the pros and cons of online dental assisting schools in Texas.

Online Dental Assisting Programs – Is it right for you?

The Pros of Online Dental Aasisting Programs

The obvious perk of online dental assisting programs is their convenience. Learning accommodates your needs, and not the other way around. You can start learning anytime and anywhere. This is an appealing option for people with busy/unpredictable schedules.

The second pro of online dental assisting programs in Texas is cost. Clearly, paying for an online course will be less expensive than in-person school. After all, everything is digital – no live instructors, no tools, no dental assisting books, and no lab materials.

The Cons of Online Dental Assisting Programs

Many people find that in-person classes give more value than online dental assistant classes. Learning from the experience of a veteran dental assistant can provide more.

Asking questions and engaging with your teacher when confused is only possible in traditional classes. Remember, live interactions help with retaining information.

One of the perks of online dental assisting programs can actually become a disadvantage. We are talking about flexibility. For individuals with poor self-discipline, opting for online classes may not be very productive. You may need the accountability that in-person classes provide.

When you attend a Texas dental assistant online course, you are less likely to meet other like-minded people. Forming relationships is important for prospective dental career opportunities.

In-person Dental Assisting Schools – The hands on way!

The Perks of In-person Dental Assisting Programs

As just mentioned, interactions are the best part of in-person classes. In our dental assisting school in Texas, you can learn and engage with other students. You will probably make friends who encourage you when you are not feeling 100%.

The instructors will also serve a crucial role in answering your questions. These questions could be related to the course you are taking or about career options in the future.

Perhaps the most valuable thing about in-person classes is the hands-on experience. As humans, we learn best when we do things with our hands. Putting a price on this valuable experience is impractical.

The other benefit of dental assistant schools is having access to dental equipment, which creates a real dental office vibe/environment. This means that you’ll start to get a peek into your job before even graduating.

Some of the best dental assistant schools in Texas offer internship programs. This may be essential for your resume when applying for your first job.

The Cons of In-person Dental Assisting Programs

Attending in-person classes is less flexible when it comes to your schedule. Choosing a class requires your consistent presence in order to graduate. Whether the classes are scheduled during the evening, on weekends, or full time.

Additionally, you need to commute between your home and the school. Depending on your location, you may need to take the bus, train, or bike.

Aside from these two inconveniences, the choice is very clear. In-person dental assisting programs may be the perfect fit for most aspiring Texas registered dental assistants.

The Outlook of Dental Assistants After Graduating From Dental Assistant School

Once you finish your classes, dental assistant certification, and graduate, it is time to think about work-life. Investing your time and money to become a Texas dental assistant should be rewarding after all, right?

This section will cover some of the opportunities you can opt for once you graduate from a dental assistant academy. At first glance, you may think that working in a dental office is the only choice. However, there are other options.

Here are some of these options:

Dental practices – solo practice or group clinics
Insurance companies – processing dental insurance claims
Specialized practices (e.g., oral surgery, maxillofacial surgery, dentofacial orthopedics, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, pediatric surgery)
Dental school clinics
Public health dentistry
Dental product sales
Vocational schools, community colleges, and universities
Teaching dental assisting

How Can the Dental Replacements Training Academy Help?

Once you decide that it’s time for a career change, you need to start learning about the field of dentistry. The first step is doing research about the education and dental certifications required for this job.

Following streamlined recommendations can be daunting, overwhelming, and costly. If you look for registered dental assistant schools in Dallas, Texas, you will find too many options.

For this reason, we, at Dental Replacements Training Academy, will help you achieve your dream to enter the dentistry field without jam-packing you with unnecessary information.

Takeaway message

In conclusion, becoming a dental assistant might be the best career choice you can make at the moment. With increasing opportunities and open positions, you can start enjoying putting a smile on your patients’ faces very soon.

We hope that this comprehensive guide helped you understand the ins and outs of dental assistant schools in Texas.