Month: May 2018

Many workers in today’s sagging economy are losing their jobs. Many employees are suffering pay cuts and unstable working conditions and those who are let go are finding it difficult to locate new work. Now is a great time to shift your thinking, as many say the best time to pursue a career change and get into a new line of work can be during a recession. Tons of industries are actually growing in this economy and oftentimes it just takes a little consideration and a small amount of education to facilitate a change.

The dental industry is an example of a field that’s growing exponentially despite our recession. The average dental assistant salary, for example was roughly 36-42 thousand dollars annually in 2008, and the dental assistant hiring rate is expected to increase 36% between 2010 and 2018. Dental assistant training is a great way to shift into a more fulfilling and stable career, and while the average dental assistant salary can seem like it would take years of schooling to obtain, many dental assistant programs can be completed in a year or less, with associates degrees offered to students who complete two year curriculum that may be applicable to other areas of the health care industry.

Duties to Earn the Average Dental Assistant Salary
Earning the average dental assistant salary will likely have you working in a dental office. According to 2008 US Department of Labor stats, about 90% of dental assistants worked in private practices. The other 10% were able to find work in hospitals, physician’s offices or certain government buildings to earn the average dental assistant salary.

Dental assistants commonly perform tasks like prepping dentist chairs, setting up instruments for the dentist and even basic tasks like teeth cleaning. Assisting the dentist during operation and responsibility for instrument sterilization constitutes the bulk of the job description. Removal of stitches and execution of other small dental procedures, such as instructing patients on oral hygiene can constitute other daily duties in earning the average dental assistant salary.

Many dental assistants work in administrative capacities as well, for instance, assisting with billing, insurance coding and appointment setting in a front of office capacity for dental practices and clinics.

Dental Assistant Training and Certification

Most dental assistant training programs will only take a year to complete before it’s possible to get certified and begin job placement. Training programs usually consist of oral anatomy, physiology and pharmacology related to dentistry. Additionally, office skills for customer service and patient communication are taught, as well as exposure to current modern machinery, instruments and equipment found in most dental offices.

Dental Assistant Training Online

Many accredited programs offer dental assistant career training online, or a hybrid of online classes so students can work while they fulfill most of their requirements to change careers. With only a year lead-time, earning the average dental assistant salary may be easier than you think.

Individuals may put off dental care for a variety of reasons, including financial difficulties, a lack of insurance, or an inability to travel to an appointment. Other people may not understand their treatment options, or fully realize the importance of following the advice of a dental professional. Anxiety or a phobia of receiving dental care is one of the most common reasons, and up to 20 percent of patients who avoid trips to the dentist cited dental fear as the sole cause of not seeking treatment. Fortunately, the dental industry is recognizing how common dental anxiety is, and has developed a variety of sedation techniques to help allay patient fears.

Because of the importance of routine dental care for overall health, dentists want to encourage patients to attend regular appointments by making visits as stress-free and comfortable as possible. Beyond early detection of dental problems such as gum disease, infection, and oral bone loss, poor dental hygiene may also lead to heart disease and an increased risk of strokes. Dentists also routinely check for oral cancer – which might otherwise go undetected.

Dental anxiety can be caused by a variety of circumstances, but is often due to the anticipation of pain, either involving the big scary needles associated with the “numbing” process, or the procedure itself. Older patients may have endured unduly painful treatments before the advent of “pain free” dental techniques. Feeling helpless or not in control can also cause dental anxiety, and in extreme cases, a phobia of dental care.

Symptoms of dental anxiety may include: excessive worry or difficulty sleeping leading up to the procedure, nausea, vomiting, sweating, rapid breathing, or even a full-blown panic attack. Despite the severity of these symptoms in some patients, there are several successful treatments available.

Many anxious patients respond well to the range of medications currently employed by sedation dentists. Although local anesthetics may be needed during potentially painful procedures, the injection is generally given after a sedative has been administered. Oral sedatives can be given to patients prior to appointments, and IV sedation is also used during procedures. Nitrous oxide gas is another tool that is used in sedation dentistry, and gives the patient a relaxed and calm feeling when inhaled. When a patient is experiencing acute anxiety or must undergo extensive surgery, a general anesthetic may be the best option.

Alternative or supplementary options for treatment of dental anxiety include: relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and positive visualization, hypnotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy for those suffering extreme phobic reactions. Patients experiencing anxiety should discuss with their dentists which treatment alternatives can best ensure a pain-free, relaxing experience while in the dental chair.

People often do not pay as much attention to their dental health as they do to other illnesses, often with serious consequences. To keep dental diseases at bay and to meet the rising costs of dental treatment it is important that you choose a good dental plan. Having a dental plan should encourage you to take more preventive care of your teeth to avoid the more serious dental problems.

With medical insurance services, the cost of a particular medical treatment or health check is reimbursed directly by the insurance company to the medical service provider. With dental insurance plans, the company is responsible for reimbursing the dentist. Dental plans can however vary in type and feature. Dentists participating in discount dental plans take lower fees than those covered by regular dental plans, with discounts varying between 20% and 60%.

All dental plans charge a membership fee, with the amount varying from one plan to the other. Dental plans are offered to either individuals or to the whole family, with family dental plans usually offering bigger discounts than individual dental plans. You should compare the rates charged under the different plans before selecting the most appropriate one for you.

It is important also to know the type of dental services covered by your dental plan. Routine dental check ups and dental treatments such as oral examination, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, teeth filling and teeth extraction are generally covered by most dental plans. However, dental plans do not always cover major dental care treatments such as oral surgery, dental implants, restorative care, braces, root canal treatments etc. In case of such costly dental procedures you unfortunately have to foot the bill yourself. Often there are a number of alternative treatments available for certain dental problems. Under such circumstances dental plans allow reimbursement for the cost of the basic dental treatment, and further costs in excess of the basic treatment cost has to be covered by the patient.

Dental health plans may or may not allow you to choose your own dentist, but it is common practice for patients to generally receive dental care from dentists mentioned in the plan. Before choosing a plan make sure that the participating dentists practice in your area. Choose a plan that is accepted nationwide and not restricted to your state. Check whether you are allowed to visit the dentist unscheduled, or at scheduled hours only.

You also need to decide whether you want an annual plan or a monthly plan. Annual dental plans are more cost beneficial than monthly plans. So get regular check ups with your dentist to reap the maximum benefits out of your dental plan.

Health insurance just that; they do not really need a hefty definition, do they? Now, while some health insurance plans may include dental insurance as a part of it, it is likely that not all your dental health needs would get covered by the health plan. To help you in your pocket expenses on dental health, here come the supplemental dental insurance plans.

Supplemental dental insurance plans should not be mistaken for a primary dental insurance plan. This insurance plan is meant to aid in the covering of costs which are associated with ones dental needs which are not covered by his existing health or dental insurance plan. Looking at it as a whole, primary dental insurance plans are purchased (normally by monthly premiums) to support the usual dental procedures costs. The supplemental dental insurance plans, on the other hand, are purchased to support the payment for the primary dental insurance plan.

One distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental dental insurance plan from a usual dental insurance plan is that the supplemental plans are not granted just because one works for a company. Individuals should seek, research, and apply for the supplemental insurance plans themselves to be able to avail of the benefits of the plans.
There are a few categories which fall under this type of dental insurance plan. The dental discount plans, discounted student dental plans, and the dental insurance preferred network provider.

The dental discount plans are designed to contain negotiations for the lowering of prices for the benefit of its members. What is interesting about this category is that it lowers dental costs; this enables the savings to be passed on its holders. Plan holders get to save money by availing of services and procedures which are provided by member dentists.

Discounted student dental plans are designed mostly for college students who have lost their dental and health coverage on their parents existing dental plans due to the fact that they have already reached the age of 18. In replacement for that, many universities and colleges provide dental benefits to students such as x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, emergency dental treatment for pain relief, as well as tooth fillings. These services are paid by the supplementary insurance company in its entirety, or it might only be a co-payment.

Lastly, the dental insurance preferred network provider is a popular type of supplemental insurance plan because of its freedom being able to select which dentist to visit. One can also switch dentists whenever they like. Under this category, the supplemental insurance plan pays a flat rate for any dental service provided, and the rest of the price is either paid by you or would get covered by your primary dental insurance plan.

In summary, having a supplemental insurance plan to cater for your primary dental insurance plan would not only help you in paying less for you and your familys dental needs but can also make sure that you get the benefits which you paid for in your primary dental insurance plan.