Dental assistant

A dental assistant supports dentists during procedures and keeps the clinical side of a practice running. They prepare treatment rooms and instruments, seat and comfort patients, hand instruments and suction during procedures, take X-rays and impressions, and handle sterilization, charting, and post-treatment instructions.

The role is fast-paced and hands-on, requiring coordination, attention to detail, and ease with anxious patients. Dental assistants work in general and specialty practices and often serve as the bridge between dentist and patient.

With relatively short training, it's a common entry point into dental careers, and experienced assistants may move into expanded clinical or office-management roles.