A dental assistant is invaluable as a member of the dental health team, providing assistance to chair side, laboratory and administrative procedures. At chair side, they assist the dentist in making patients comfortable and preparing them for treatment. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and are responsible for sterilizing the instruments used. In the office, they schedule and confirm appointments. In the lab, they make casts of teeth, clean and polish removable appliances and make temporary crowns.

Dental assistants are always in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, which is much faster than the average for all occupations combined. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.