Dental assisting programs teach people to help dentists and dental hygienists. Students learn to take X-rays, interview patients, and keep records. They learn to prepare both patients and equipment for procedures and help the dentist when working on patients.

They are known as their boss's "third arm." They smile to comfort you as you clench the arms of your chair with sweaty palms. They make sure everything is clean and sterile for your protection. They take pictures of your smile. They help run an office. They are great with people. They teach you how to keep your teeth healthy. Who are they? Dental assistants.

Dental assistants wear many hats in a dental office. They provide chairside assistance to both their patients and their bosses (the dentists) during procedures. They prepare equipment and take X-rays. But besides their technical abilities, they also have to work well with people. They interact with patients, insurance companies, suppliers, and their own coworkers to help keep the office running smoothly.

Because of all of their responsibilities, dental assisting students participate in different kinds of training: classroom, laboratory, and clinical. For example, they learn how to keep medical records and comfort nervous patients. They study the anatomy of the mouth, head, and neck. They learn different dental procedures. And they get the opportunity to practice and apply the knowledge they've learned in real-life dental settings.

Over 70 colleges and universities offer programs in dental assisting. Most of these schools offer certificates, but a few of them also offer associate degrees. A certificate usually takes one to two years of full-time study after high school. An associate degree typically takes two to three years.