There has been a massive push for dental assistants lately, with 332,000 dental assistant jobs in the United States in 2016 – and growing. The projection is that these jobs will increase 19 percent from 2016 to 2025, faster than the average profession. But why are dental assistants in such high demand?
Oral health remains a top priority among many adult Americans. An American Dental Association (ADA) survey shows that 77 percent of adults plan to visit their dentist within the next year, while 85 percent feel the need to visit their dentist at least twice annually. A staggering 95 percent think regular dental visits are crucial in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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Being a dental assistant is therefore embarking on a fast-paced industry like dentistry. The duties and responsibilities are clear and valuable, from checking patient health status and preparing dental instruments and equipment, to providing post-treatment instructions and accomplishing office management tasks. Dental assistants are also tasked to contact patients and suppliers, as well as organize office data and records.
Ongoing research also continues to link oral health and general health, and this will likely continue to enhance the demand for preventive dental services. Dental clinics and offices will keep having the need for dental assistants to perform routine tasks and allow the dentists themselves to see more patients in their practice and take over more complex procedures.
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As the industry grows, there will be more openings for dental assistant positions, and the momentum will likely to continue for years and decades to come.
Kami Hoss, MS, DDS is a sought-after author, consultant, inventor, and speaker in the fields of dentistry and business. He is the co-founder and CEO of The Super Dentists and the chief executive of Acceledontics and Howard Healthcare Academy. Read more on this site.
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