Dental Assisting Requirements in Texas

Dental assistants assist dentists in carrying out various tasks such as setting instruments and preparing patients for treatment. They can find work in dental offices, clinics, hospitals and even educational institutions. A large number of dental assistants in Texas are certified through short-term programs by the Dental Assisting National Board. Dental assistants join the Texas Dental Assistants Association, which offers educational services through study courses, educational meetings and agendas and professional journals.

Age

• For you to become a dental assistant in Texas, you have to be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate with a diploma or GED. The diploma will allow you to attend community colleges to get training on dental assisting. You will then qualify to work under the supervision of a dentist.

On-the-Job Training

• Many dental assistants get their skills while on the job. It is while working that they learn to interact with patients, learn how to carry out day-to-day tasks and to handle the various instruments used to treat dental patients. The initial few months on the job are therefore mainly for training purposes. In most cases, however, this on-job training is not sufficient for dental assistants. Thus, one may choose to seek training in dental health before starting the job.

Educational Requirements

• Educational training on dental assisting provides the dental assistant with the skills needed for the job. It can take 9 to 11 months to complete the program, after which the dental assistant acquires a certificate, a diploma or a degree. All these core educational requirements include dental terminology, anatomy and physiology. Students also need to at least have the knowledge of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This program assists the student to carry out tasks effectively with the rest of the dental care staff by equipping him with laboratory and dental assistant skills.

Certification for Dental Assistants

• After the completion of the program, dental assistants qualify to take a test from the Dental National Board to become fully certified. The board sets standards for these certification exams, which are in three parts that cover dental assistant fundamentals, dental diseases and health and safety section. While many states expect an individual to acquire a license in order to practice as a dental assistant, others recognize the certification from the Dental Assistant National Board, which makes licensing not a major requirement for one to become a dental assistant.