Dental Assistant

Dental assistants are vital to oral health care. They work directly beside dentists, assisting in procedures, sterilizing instruments, maintaining equipment, and obtaining patients' dental history. Dental assistants are also trained to prepare materials for impressions and restorations, remove sutures, place rubber dams to assist in treatment, and take dental x-rays. Most high school graduates can earn a degree or certificate to work in this field in as little as two years and occasionally dentists will take potential assistants under their wing to teach them the trade. States usually regulate the duties a dental assistant can perform. Starting salary for individuals in this field can be anywhere between $11.00 and $20.00 dollars an hour.