While the negative aspects of egotism and ambition are all too apparent, it is also true that for a man or woman to function adequately and maturely in a society, it is necessary to have a certain amount of healthy self-confidence. When a man or woman lacks self-confidence on a sexual level, it can be apparent in every aspect of their lives. It is often necessary to be sure of one's identity as a man or woman in order to be successful. Karen Johnson is a woman who suffers from a lack of sexual self-assurance. Buried in the drab, stern facade of her dental assistant career, Karen at last realizes that it is a waste for her to hide her natural beauty and sensuality. Thus, it is only when she learns to appreciate herself and she at last breaks free of the deeply imbedded strictures of her moralistic upbringing that she becomes a confident and successful adult. THE HORNY DENTAL ASSISTANT is a novel about a woman's struggle to free herself of deep-seated fears and inhibitions and take her place as a fully functioning, independent and knowledgeable adult.