Proper oral hygiene is about much more than having white teeth and minty fresh breath. It is essential for overall health and well-being. Research suggests that poor oral hygiene is linked to serious health conditions, such as pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
Regular visits to a dentist’s office are an essential part of maintaining good oral health. While dentists generally get top billing, dental assistants are crucial to ensuring the smooth operation of a dental practice. Dental assistants are often the first people who patients engage with at the dentist’s office, guiding them from the front desk to the dental chair. They schedule appointments, manage billing and patient records, prepare treatment rooms, process X-rays, assist dentists during procedures, and educate patients on proper oral care, among many other responsibilities.
Now is a great time to pursue dental assisting training, with employment in the dental industry projected to experience significant growth over the next decade. In particular, enrolling in a dental assistant program in South Carolina provides unique advantages.
What Is a Dental Assisting Training Program?
Dental assisting training programs combine traditional classroom instruction with hands-on training to prepare students for a career as a dental assistant and similar roles. Programs such as the Fortis dental assistant school in South Carolina follow a hybrid model, with the majority of courses taken on campus and a handful offered online.
The 48-week program includes an externship, which gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they gain in the classroom and lab to real-world situations in dental environments. Externships are typically shorter than internships, lasting anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
What Will You Learn in a Dental Assistant Program in South Carolina?
The career-focused curriculum offered in a dental assisting training program, with its emphasis on technical expertise and real-world skill development, prepares aspiring dental assistants to enter the workforce with confidence.
Students in a dental assisting training program learn the following:
Dental procedures and techniques
Infection control and sterilization practices
Chairside assistance during dental examinations and treatments
Radiographic imaging and equipment operation
Patient care and education
Dental office administration and recordkeeping practices
In addition to helping students develop their technical knowledge, dental assisting programs emphasize interpersonal and communication skills. Honing these skills is vital for dental assistants, who regularly interact with patients and other dental professionals.
What Can You Do With Dental Assistant Training in SC
The training that students receive in a dental assisting program can prepare them for a wide range of careers, including patient care roles and those that involve working in a lab. While the majority of dental professionals work in private dental practices, those with dental assisting training can also find work in:
Specialty dental practices, such as oral surgery and orthodontics
Public health programs
Dental school clinics
Hospital dental clinics
Below are just some of the roles that graduates of a dental assistant program in South Carolina can pursue.
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants wear many hats. In a single day, they may greet and check in patients, record medical histories, sterilize dental instruments, assist dentists during procedures, instruct patients on proper oral hygiene, process payments, and schedule follow-up appointments. They are essential members of the dental staff, providing vital support to dentists and often acting as the primary point of contact for patients.
Dental Office Manager
Dental office managers primarily focus on the administrative and clerical aspects of running a dental office. They may be responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training staff; managing a dental practice’s marketing efforts; ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations; managing patient records and billing; and selecting or updating office computer systems. Office managers may also interact with patients, often working alongside dental assistants or others who have more direct engagement with patients.
Dental Lab Technician
Those seeking a less patient-facing role may be interested in a job as a dental lab technician. Technicians primarily work in laboratory settings, creating and repairing dentures, crowns, bridges, and other dental appliances. They use various tools, including files and polishers, and materials, such as wax and plastic, to develop these products. Dental lab technicians increasingly rely on computer programs and 3D printers to create dental appliances and restorations.
Public Health Dental Assistant
Those with dental assisting training can apply their expertise to a public health role, providing education and developing policies and programs that benefit entire communities, along with more traditional dental assistant duties. Their responsibilities sometimes involve working with underserved patient populations, such as students or older adults. A career in public health dentistry may require additional education and training.
Dental Assistant Job Outlook in South Carolina
Increasing awareness of the link between oral health and overall health and the growing number of older adults — who generally experience more oral health problems than young people — is expected to drive demand for dental services over the next several years.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of dental assistants to grow by 8% between 2023 and 2033, creating approximately 31,500 new jobs. Additionally, the BLS projects nearly 54,900 job openings for dental assistants each year, on average, during this period.
In South Carolina, demand for dental assistants is expected to be even stronger. According to the U.S. Department of Labor website Projections Central, employment opportunities for dental assistants in the Palmetto State are expected to grow by 20% between 2022 and 2032, a net increase of about 1,000 new jobs. The agency projects that there will be more than 800 job openings each year during that period, on average.
Other dentistry roles, such as that of dental hygienist, are also forecasted to experience stable to strong employment growth over the next decade, indicating an overall robust job market for the entire dental care sector.
Begin Your Dental Assisting Career With Fortis
Dental assistants are integral to quality dental care, ushering patients through virtually every step of the experience and providing crucial assistance to dentists. The importance of good oral health will ensure an ongoing need for dental assistants and other dental professionals in the coming years.
If you are interested in joining this growing field, explore the Fortis dental assisting program in South Carolina. Located in Columbia, the state capital, our program balances hands-on training and classroom learning to give you a comprehensive dental education that can prepare you for a rewarding career.
Recommended Readings
What Does a Pediatric Dental Assistant Do?
Beyond the Dentist’s Chair: Career Opportunities for Dental Assistants
Give Kids a Smile Day