What does a dental assistant do?
- Processing x-rays
- Applying sealants and other applications
- Topical anesthetic training
- Proper usage of different dental instruments
- Miscellaneous Administrative tasks (billing, patient records, appointments, etc.)
- Preparing patients for procedures and treatments
- Training in proper oral hygiene
What’s the job outlook for dental assistants?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the anticipated growth of the dental assistant field is “much faster than average.” Between 2018 and 2028, jobs are expected to increase by 11%, with an employment increase of 38,700 during that time period!

How can you get a dental assistant certification?
While some states don’t require formal education to become a dental assistant, other states require potential dental assistants to pass an exam and receive certification.
Many schools offer certification programs to get trained as a dental assistant. And these programs are comparatively short — most programs can be completed in nine to eleven months. Some schools even offer accelerated training, part-time education programs, or remote training, making it easy to fit these programs into your schedule!
There are several places where you can find details about individual dental assistant programs: