The role of dental assistant is an important one in a dental office, as well as being a fulfilling career. Luckily for dental assistants, their career also is ranked among the top jobs for a great work-life balance, which makes it a bit easier to achieve.
According to Money/US News, dental assistants rank in the Top 25 Best Healthcare Support Jobs, but their work-life balance score is an eight out of 10, which exceed most jobs. Why does the job score well for job satisfaction and work-life balance? Jobs with low stress levels, strong upward mobility and good flexibility tends to make employees the happiest, thus scoring well in work-life balance.
While the stress level for dental assistants is average (i.e., not as low as some jobs), opportunities for advancement are high and they have above average scheduling flexibility. Because many dental assistants are able to choose between working part-time or full-time. They have the welcome flexibility to balance personal and career objectives.
An informal poll of working dental assistants asked what they needed most. The most frequent answer was family time – time when they could recharge and keep motivated. The key to being able to accomplish that is to “be wherever you are.” When you’re at work, stay focused on your job and your patients but, when at home, forget about work and train your focus on your family.
In other words, always make some time for yourself. And, with the opportunity to work part-time, as needed, “me time” comes a bit easier.
The good news for dental assistants is the current generation is inclined to take better care of their teeth than previous generations did. As a result, the projections are there will be nearly 65,000 new dental assistant positions by 2026 – that’s employment growth of 19%, which is much faster than the average for all professions.
In addition to good work-life balance, dental assisting appears poised to be fertile ground for new members of the profession. Select Fortis Colleges and Institutes campuses across the country can help prepare candidates to assist dentists, use suction equipment, process oral x-rays, maintain patient records and/or take oral imprints for crowns and other dental work. Visit our Dental Assisting program page to learn more about the opportunities afforded to Dental Assisting program graduates and the campuses nearest to you that offer the program.
