Which dental assisting specialty is right for you?
One draw of the dental assisting profession is the flexibility it offers. Not only does it provide career growth opportunities, but dental assistants can also work in one of many specialty fields within dentistry. In fact, many dental assistants work in multiple specialties throughout their careers! There is certainly overlap between specialties in terms of a dental assistant’s duties. For example, you’ll still be taking x-rays, preparing exam rooms and instruments, and performing infection control protocols in most settings. But there are differences in the types of procedures you’ll be assisting with, the patients you’ll serve, your pay, and — depending on your state requirements — the duties you can perform.
Whether you’re new to the profession or have been working as a dental assistant for many years, you might be wondering which specialty is the best fit for your skill set, interests, and preferred work style. Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular specialties to help you decide where you might thrive as a dental assistant.
General dentistry
Most dental assistants work in general dentistry practices. In general dentistry, you’ll help provide routine oral care, including exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, and crowns, for patients of all ages. General dentistry practices usually perform restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, and bridges as well. In other words, dental assistants get to do a little bit of everything, and no two days look the same!
General dentistry might be the best fit for you if:
- You’re just starting your career and want to learn the foundations of dentistry and dental assisting.
- You like variety in your job and want to work on a wide range of procedures.
- You enjoy working with people of all ages and personalities.
- You aren’t sure what specialty you prefer and want to experience a little bit of everything to see what you like best.
Orthodontic
As an orthodontic assistant, you’ll help the orthodontist with procedures, such as braces and aligners, that straighten teeth and jaws. For example, you might help apply and remove braces, wires, and rubber bands from patients’ teeth. You may also prepare bonding agents or cement, take x-rays or digital scans, update patient records to track their progress, and take impressions to help create devices such as retainers.
Orthodontics might be the best fit for you if:
- You want to play a role in transforming patients’ smiles and boosting their confidence.
- You find it rewarding to see a patient’s steady progress each time they visit the office.
- You like to build relationships with patients that can last several years over the course of their treatment plan.
- You’re comfortable working with teenagers, who could make up the majority of the patients you’ll see.
Pediatric
Pediatric dental assistants are crucial to making a trip to the dentist a positive one for each child. Beyond performing typical dental assisting duties, pediatric assistants work hard to make kids comfortable, alleviate their fears, and educate them about their teeth and oral health.
Pediatric dentistry might be the best fit for you if:
- You enjoy working with children and can effectively communicate with them in a creative, age-appropriate way.
- You have a nurturing, calming, and upbeat personality.
- You have the patience to manage children (and parents) who may be nervous or may not understand what’s going on.
- You want to help kids learn to enjoy the dental office and set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.
Explore pediatric dental assisting courses from the DALE Foundation
Oral surgery
In this specialty, you’ll help the oral surgeon with more complex procedures, including extractions, jaw surgery, implants, bone grafts, and more. Among other tasks, oral surgery assistants help prepare surgical setups, implement strict infection control protocols, assist during procedures, monitor patients, and provide post-operative care instructions. In certain states, oral surgery assistants may also be able to perform tasks such as removing sutures or administering and monitoring nitrous oxide.
Oral surgery might be the best fit for you if:
- You stay calm and focused in stressful situations.
- You’re detail-oriented and can follow comprehensive surgical protocols.
- You’re comfortable around blood and surgical instruments.
- You’re skilled at comforting patients who are highly anxious about their procedures.
- You enjoy assisting with a variety of different procedures.
Periodontics
As a periodontal dental assistant, you’ll focus on the areas surrounding the teeth, including the gums and jawbone. Periodontal dental assistants help with deep cleaning procedures such as scaling and root planing, as well as implants, gum grafts, and other surgeries. You’ll focus on treating conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, gum recession, and bone loss.
Periodontics might be the best fit for you if:
- You’re comfortable around blood and surgical instruments.
- You’re interested in the connection between oral and overall wellness, particularly as it pertains to gum health.
- You’re detail-oriented and can follow comprehensive surgical protocols.
Endodontics
An endodontics practice helps patients dealing with issues inside the tooth, particularly the pulp and roots, which contain tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Root canals are the most common procedures performed by endodontists, but you may occasionally assist with extractions, implants, apicoectomies, and other treatments.
Endodontics might be the best fit for you if:
- You like the structure and routine of performing just a few types of procedures (largely root canals, in this case).
- You find it rewarding to provide relief to patients dealing with significant tooth pain.
- You’re interested in dental anatomy and the detailed nature of endodontic procedures.