What Is a Dental Assistant? And How to Become One?

October 5, 20222 Minutes Read
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If you're interested in becoming a dental assistant, this article is for you. It covers everything from what it means to be a dental assistant to the qualifications needed to get the job.

What is a dental assistant?

Dental assistants help dentists, hygienists and other health care providers by performing various tasks such as cleaning teeth and filling cavities, scheduling appointments and answering phones.

Most dental assistants work full-time jobs, but some work part-time while pursuing additional education, such as going directly into medical school after obtaining their license. They may eventually specialise further within that field.

Job Overview:

Dental assistants perform a wide range of duties and are patients' first point of contact. They may be in charge of taking care of the paperwork, scheduling appointments and setting up procedures. In addition to providing support for the dentist, dental assistants can also be called dental hygienists (DHs).

Dental assistants are often asked to perform administrative tasks such as filing insurance claims or assisting with billing at check-in stations in dental offices. Other duties include making house calls on behalf of dentists; maintaining patient records; preparing X-ray films; providing treatments such as scaling or polishing teeth using fluorides and sealants; taking X-rays if needed by a particular patient; ordering supplies from suppliers such as crowns or bridges before delivering them directly into clients' mouths.

How to become a certified dental assistant in India:

  1. You will need to complete 12th Grade in Science with a specialisation in Biology.

  2. You can opt for a Dental Training Course/Certification program that includes classroom instruction, clinical practice and hands-on experience on the job. The training period varies depending on your chosen institute, but it usually takes three to six months to complete this course before you are eligible to apply for an entry-level job at a dental clinic or hospital as an assistant dentist.

  3. Certification isn't required. However, there are some benefits of being certified:a. Certification can improve job prospects and pay. Employers often require applicants who are certified or have completed additional training programs to be considered for jobs as dental assistants.b. Certification can improve job security. It will make the job search easier.

  4. Find a job and get experience! Now that you are aware of what a dental assistant is and how to become one, it's time to find a job! Talk with people who have been successful in the field and see if they can advise on getting a job and what areas are currently hiring.

    If you need help deciding before opting for it as a career, Glow & Lovely Careers (formerly Fair & Lovely Career Foundation) offers free career guidance. You can also upskill yourself withfree online coursesand make a resume for free to apply for work. An also upskill yourself with free online courses and make a resume for free to apply for work.

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July 26, 20217 Minutes Read

Free Online Courses with Certification For Stay At Home Moms

Fortunately, we live in a time where learning can be done from the comfort of home. So if you're looking to start working again or want to improve your skills? Online courses are the way to go.

Doing an online certificate course also shows that you are taking steps to get better at something you like.

In the pandemic, online courses have become even more popular. So there are many options available. To make things easier, we have listed the top 9 free online courses that stay-at-home moms can apply for.

  1. Take Up A Creative Writing Course

    A creative content writing course is one of the best ways to improve your writing skills. Once you get into the habit of writing, you can slowly try making a profession out of it.

    An online writing course provides opportunities to learn good English. You will be given writing activities that uncover the passion you have for writing. Some of the lessons involve learning grammar, punctuation, and different writing styles.

    After understanding the basics of writing, you can apply for jobs related to content writing, proofreading (editing) or copywriting.

    You get to see your words used in magazines and websites! These types of jobs also don't have a strict working schedule. This is a bonus if you like to plan your own working hours.

  2. Develop Your Communication Skills

    Everyone feels slightly nervous about presenting confidently in the office, especially if there's been a gap in work. This is why it's necessary to brush up on speaking skills and more by taking up a communication skills course.

    With each class, you gain confidence to keep a conversation interesting and get the right points across to colleagues.

    Communication courses will teach you to find the right words to say and take control of a conversation. If you are interested in jobs linked to sales, media, or even teaching, you should definitely take communication skills courses.

    Most of these online courses also give importance to non-verbal communication skills. You get to practice maintaining eye contact and posture when you speak. All of these are equally important for good communication.

  3. Learn To Use Excel For Book Keeping And Accounting

    Do you love keeping a budget, tracking your income and expenses at home? Then you may have a passion for accounting. So why not take up a course on it to understand the basics of accounting?

    The knowledge you gain from such an online course can help when you land well-paying jobs in the finance industry.

    Microsoft Excel is a very useful tool for roles like professional accountants, where you have to look at data and make a financial strategy. This is why we also suggest taking an Excel course to know the proper use of it.

    Once you learn Excel, you will be able to do quick calculations and organize the numbers in neat spreadsheets.

  4. Do A Preschool Teacher Training Course

    Would you enjoy being a teacher to children in the age group of 2 to 6? Then we suggest that you do an online Preschool Teacher Training course. Teaching nursery kids is interesting because you get to make a huge impact on their lives.

    Besides taking a training course, you can also apply for short tutorials that help teachers to make lesson plans. Once you have the certificates, you will have more value in the job market. After that, you can apply to different preschools for a teaching job. There are several websites, like WONK, where you can work as an online teacher too and earn a good salary.

    Teaching is a rewarding profession and if you are interested in it, we highly suggest registering for several free teaching courses online. When you attend good quality courses, your teaching qualities increase too.

  5. Online Personality Development Course

    Like we said when there's a gap in employment, it takes effort to get outside your comfort zone. This is when many people take up online personality development courses.

    Personality Development courses prepare you for speaking in interviews and sharing your thoughts in groups.

    You also learn basic etiquette (manners) and tone of voice to use when you write emails or make phone calls. Knowing these small things can make a huge difference in the workplace.

  6. Pursue A Digital Marketing Course

    Digital marketing courses are in demand because technology is now present everywhere.

    When a new brand opens, the owners want the products to be visible to their potential customers. For this to happen, a lot of work goes into making a brand's potential visible on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and more.

    If you would like to be part of the team that builds brand awareness for a company, you should pursue a digital marketing course.

    The things you learn from a digital marketing course will also help you get ideas for when you feel like running your own business. Overall, digital marketing is a vast field and there are various interesting job profiles you can consider.

    Also Read: 10 Simple Ways To Start A Career In Digital Marketing

  7. Beautician Course

    Have you always wanted to work at a beauty salon, spa, or clinic but never felt qualified enough? Then try a beauty therapy course to learn the basics of managing a salon and its jobs. You can take lessons on nail art, haircutting techniques, makeup, skincare, and more.

    The beauty of such courses is that you also get to meet other passionate people who also love the beauty industry.

    There are many self-taught makeup artists in India. But if you have a certificate from an online course, you are at an advantage. You will have a better chance of getting work.

  8. Basics Of Marketing

    Most big companies always give plenty of value to the marketing department. This is because the marketers take the responsibility to educate interested customers about the products. Without marketing employees, a company can even fail.

    The job of a marketer is to also generate leads (interested customers) for the salespeople. Now, this is not an easy task unless you have some knowledge about it.

    In a Marketing course, you will learn strategies used by companies to gain leads, manage them and bring profit to the company. If you are interested in marketing, take a free online course that introduces you to its basics.

  9. Human Resources Certification Course

    Human Resources is one of the many departments in a company. This group is usually always searching for new employees to fill open job positions. Their role involves finding the right candidate for the company and having an eye for detail.

    A person working in HR studies different profiles and sorts through resumes to find that one talented person who can become a part of the company.

    This is a very interesting job for many and the scope here is endless. You manage various administrative tasks for the company and you get to interact with new faces.

    You also get to welcome new team members and organize fun activities for the company. If you would like to learn more about this field, consider taking up a free HR course online.

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