How to Become a Dental Assistant for Surgery

With additional training, dental assistants can help with oral surgery.

Dental assistants do much of the grunt work in dental offices. They clean dental equipment, update dental records and take X-rays and dental impressions. Since dental assisting is a growing occupation, there are increased opportunities for specialization, such as oral surgery assistant. Oral surgery assistants are dental assistants with an associate's degree in dental assisting and several years of specialized training.

Instructions

1. Go to an accredited dental assisting school. Most dental assisting programs only last 12 months and students are awarded a diploma. According to the American Dental Association, many oral surgeons require oral surgery assistants to have an associate's degree.

2. Pass the Certified Dental Assistant exam administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 37 states require or recognize this exam for certification. Some states have stricter regulations and require training in radiology and lab technology. To find out the requirements in your state, contact your state's dental board.

3. Work for several years as a dental assistant. Before an oral surgeon will train you as an oral surgery assistant, you must work for several years and learn as much as you can about dental assisting. After you have proven yourself, an oral surgeon will train you.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
• American Dental Association: Dental Team Careers, Dental Assistant
• Degree Directory: "What Are the Duties of an Oral Surgeon's Assistant?"

Resources

• American Dental Association: Dental Assisting, Hygiene and Lab Technology Programs