In the next 10 years, the jobs in the medical field are expected to increase by 15%. If you’re thinking about a career in the medical field, why not consider a dental career? Being a dental assistant is one path you can take or a dental hygienist.
Here are seven reasons why a career in the dental profession might work for you!
1. Job Security
As mentioned above, the dental career field is expanding and the job outlook is positive and ripe! This means that you’ll have great job security and stability because people will always need their teeth cleaned, repaired, and so forth. Also, you can take your job almost anywhere so you’re not tied down to one location.
2. Helping People
When people care for their mouths they’re actually taking care of their entire bodies! As a dental worker, you get to be responsible for helping people care for one of the most important parts of their bodies. This can be through dental education, cleaning, assisting the dentist, and so forth.
3. Enjoy Science
While helping people is the main objective in dental work, you also need to enjoy some aspect of science, particularly biology and anatomy. These sciences are the study of life and parts of the body, which you will be studying in-depth. If science isn’t your thing, you may want to rethink this career choice!
4. Less Time in School
When you’re considering a dental assistant program or a dental hygienist program, know that you will not spend as much time as you would in school compared to getting an undergrad degree. Depending on the career track you choose, you can spend on average 2-3 years in school.
Not only that, but many dental assistant programs offer courses in how to prepare and land a job, or have job placement programs, so you’ll feel confident right out of school.
5. Less Cost
A bachelor’s degree can cost about $35,000 and upwards depending on the institution you attend and other fees. Overall, you’re potentially looking at $400,000 or more over the course of your undergrad education.
A dental assistant program costs significantly less, around $20,000 depending on location, program, time in the program, and other fees. It’s much more affordable and has a better stability outlook.
6. Hands-On Training
One of the great things about becoming a dental assistant or hygenist is that you receive hands-on training. It’s not all textbooks, lectures, and papers, but you get to experience what it’s like in a real dental setting. This could be in school or as an internship at a dental office.
Hands-on training allows you to peek inside the nuts and bolts of the job so you feel confident about what you’re going to be doing on the job.
7. A Great Salary
Just because you spend nearly half the time in school as you would with a bachelor’s degree, doesn’t mean you make less money. Depending on the location and education, you can make anywhere from $30,000-50,000 as a dental assistant and $50,000-100,000 as a dental hygienist.
Remember that those numbers will fluctuate based on several variables, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a decent living in a dental career.
8. Flexibility
A dental career gives you excellent flexibility pertaining to when and where you work. While many dental assistants and hygienists work full time, you may have the option to work part-time especially if you have a family or want to continue your education. You may have to work one weekend day depending on the hours of the office, but generally speaking most have limited hours or they’re closed on the weekends.
You can also choose where you want to work. Most dental assistants work in private or group practices, but you can work in hospitals, educational institutions, suppliers, and so forth. There really are several opportunities!
9. Continued Learning
Life as a dental assistant is never dull! If you’re a person who loves to learn you can gain so much education through being on the job. You might learn other ins and outs of working in your office like office administration, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and so forth. Learning other responsibilities shows that you’re a valued employee and can help the office stay afloat should other needs arise.
Not only that but there’s also room for advancement. If you decide to you want to expand your career or your education, you already have the foundation to do so. The medical field is always full of opportunities to learn and grow.
Apply to School
When you’re ready to take the step as a dental assistant, you might be wondering what the application and enrollment are like. Here are some things you’ll need to remember.
Do your research on schools in your area. Because dental programs require hands-on learning you’ll need to be present for classes. Make sure they’re accredited or certified and that the program meets state requirements.
Have your high school diploma or GED available. Most, if not all, dental programs require that you have a diploma or its equivalent. Be sure to gather all the items you need so you can have them handy when you fill out your application.
Tour the facility if you can and meet with an advisor. Going to the school itself will give you a feel for what it will be like as you study. If tours and meetings are available, be sure to sign up or schedule a meeting.
Any education you work for isn’t going to be terribly inexpensive, so work with your financial advisor to come up with a payment plan for your tuition. Ask about scholarships or other available financial opportunities.
Are You Ready for Your New Dental Career?
A dental career may be right for you if you enjoy working with people, wish to grow in your field, and enjoy the sciences. How will you get started on your career path to dentistry today?
Do you want to learn more to help you get a head start on your job in healthcare? Our health page has what you need! Visit health page today to learn more.
