A career in the dental industry can be exciting! Dental assistants and dental hygienists both play an active role in the dental office. While both are under the supervision a dentist, they perform separate duties and have different levels of patient interaction. There are some big differences between these two positions.

One of the main differences is how closely you work with a dentist in each position. As an assistant, you would work beside a dentist, helping them in several ways, including administrative tasks and patient care. In comparison, a dental hygienist does not work as closely with a dentist and spends more one-on-one time with patients.

Roles of a Dental Assistant

• Preparing exam rooms
• Sterilize and set up tools and equipment
• Taking X-rays and dental impressions
• Coding patient files
• Filling out insurance paperwork and navigate the billing process

Roles of a Dental Hygienist

• Work directly with patients
• Clean and polish patients' teeth
• Removing plaque and tarter from teeth
• Taking X-rays
• Applying sealants and fluoride

Starting your career in the dental industry

Another difference between these positions is the amount of education required to become a dental assistant or dental hygienist. Community colleges and vocational or technical schools offer dental assisting programs that can be completed in a few as ten months, while training to become a dental hygienist requires an associate's degree in dental hygiene that often takes about three years of schooling.

Do you want to begin a rewarding career as a dental assistant? The 10-month Dental Assisting program at YTI Career Institute is designed to prepare students to quickly start a career as a Dental Assistant. Visit our Dental Assisting program page for complete details, or, if you're ready to get started, apply today on our online application portal!