A dental assistant does more than just hold an extractor

My mother is a dental assistant, and I knew I wanted to be one when I was four. Whenever I had a dental appointment, I was always allowed to "help out." This gave me a playful introduction to the profession. When I was in high school, I participated in a trial internship during the school holidays. This gives you a better understanding of a profession and whether it's a good fit for you.

After completing pre-university education (HAVO), Denise deliberately chose to pursue a Dental Assistant program instead of pursuing a higher professional education (HBO) in Oral Surgery. She finds the work more varied. "A dental assistant handles the administrative side of things behind the scenes or at the chairside. You perform a wide variety of tasks, from updating patient records, assisting with treatments, and ensuring everything is ready, to independently performing a number of treatments. This includes taking impressions, taking X-rays, and ensuring all materials are sterile and disposed of correctly."

Officially, Denise finished her training in October, meaning she would have earned her diploma in two years, not three. Denise decided to add an extra internship with an oral surgeon. "A spot opened up in the oral surgery elective. Right now, I'm working with the orthodontist, but I'd rather do both. I want to learn and see as much as possible about the profession. Starting in October, I'll be doing a ten-week internship with an oral surgeon, and then I can't wait to start working as a dental assistant."