Searching for a rewarding career in the medical field? You may want to become a dental assistant instead.

There are many reasons why you should consider a career as a dental assistant, including:

You can help provide valuable dental treatments to patients.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends patients visit the dentist for regular check-ups at least every six months, and perhaps for good reason.

Oral health problems like cavities and gingivitis can result in significant damage to a patient’s mouth or teeth. And if these issues go untreated, the damage could become permanent.

Fortunately, dental assistants offer valuable dental treatments and guidance. These professionals assist dentists during hands-on dental procedures and teach patients how to combat oral health problems consistently.

Also, dental assistants understand what it takes to obtain and maintain an outstanding smile. And ultimately, they can help patients get the smiles they’ve always wanted, too.

You can enjoy a flexible work schedule.

According to the Dental Assisting National Board, more than one third of dental assistants work part-time. As such, these professionals often maintain extensive flexibility, which is ideal for those who are hesitant to commit to a job that requires a traditional work schedule. Although the flexibility is there, working full-time at a dental office is very common as well. Monday through Friday shifts with weekends off is the norm in the dental field, which makes it easier for dental assistants to enjoy their own time off whichever way they like.

It is important to note that many dental assistants perform tasks in a variety of dental offices, too. This enables dental assistants to work with numerous dentists and patients day after day, ensuring no two work shifts are identical.

As a result, working as a dental assistant usually provides exciting new challenges and opportunities daily.

You can benefit from tremendous job security.

Regardless of whether you want to work in one dental office or many practices, dental assistants commonly benefit from outstanding job security. This trend appears likely to continue into the foreseeable future as well.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated the employment of dental assistants will grow 18 percent from 2014 to 2024. And with the ongoing research that links oral health to general health, the demand for preventive dental services may increase, the BLS points out.