The idea of a university education used to seem obligatory; people just assumed that they needed to attend college to have a meaningful career. However, more recently college degrees have presented their own setbacks. For one thing, college takes quite a bit of time.
This is both in terms of the standard four years that it takes most people to get an undergraduate degree — though many take five or six years — and the further years that are required for those who want advanced degrees. Many find it difficult to balance college with work and family. Furthermore, a college degree is quite expensive, with million of students taking out thousands of dollars in debt — only to discover that they won’t have the types of careers that will help them pay off their loans for quite some time. Just because a college degree opens the door to certain careers, doesn’t mean that their career goals will be easy to achieve.
For these reasons, among others, many are turning to vocational training rather than a university-based education. Perhaps one of the most prominent types of vocational schools available is dental school. Students can get a lot of out of schools with hands-on dental training. Let’s find out more!
Why Go To Dental School?
When many of us think of dental school or dental college, we think of the level of training that it takes to be a dentist. However, you can work in the field without being a dentist, and have a successful career with great pay and benefits. Schools with hands-on dental training allow people to enter the field already accomplished and qualified. Most of the time, the best career in the dental industry for those who don’t want to be dentists outright is that of the dental assistant.
Dental assistants work with patients just like dentists do, and as every dentist needs dental assistants, there is more than enough demand for the job. The year 2017 alone saw 126.7 million adults in the United States go to the dentist — as long as people need to take care of their teeth, there will be a demand for dental assistants. However, you can’t just jump into the job. It’s important to get the proper training, and achieving certification as a dental assistant offers a lot of advantages for those in the industry. In terms of those who received DANB’s CDA certification, for example, 70% have received raises in their current positions, and 89% report high levels of job satisfaction. With that being said, the type of program that dental assistants enroll in matters as well.
Why Is Practical Dental Assistant Training Important?
Hands-on dental training means that students work with patients, under the watchful eyes of their instructors. Of course, these students are not only carefully monitored but prepared — hands-on dental training isn’t just a matter of jumping into working with patients. One of the main reasons why people pursue this type of dental training, as opposed to the type that is more old-fashioned and purely academic, is that it often is preferred by those hiring dental assistants. It’s much easier to work with those who have already received practical training, as opposed to those who only have theoretical knowledge. This isn’t meant to devalue academic educations. But dental assistants are better off with both types of training, and it should be incorporated into their schooling, as opposed to being left to after they’re hired.
What’s Next For Dental Assistants?
As previously mentioned, the outlook for the dental industry is bright! As technology advances, there will be more and more of a need for dental assistants. Not only will these assistants be needed for family dentists, but for cosmetic dentists as well — and certainly, that field is only going to expand. Dental assistants will jump into their careers with the opportunity for advancement, good pay, and reasonable hours, allowing them to have fast-paced jobs with control over their futures. Why wouldn’t you pursue it?