What You Need to Know About Dental Assistant
Career Description Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.
Daily Life Of a Dental Assistant
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Fabricate and fit orthodontic appliances and materials for patients, such as retainers, wires, or bands.
- Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
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Dental Assistant Needed Skills
Dental Assistants state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Other Dental Assistant Job Titles
- Orthodontic Technician
- Oral Surgery Assistant
- Certified Registered Dental Assistant
- Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA)
- Dental Aide
Job Opportunities for Dental Assistants
In the United States, there were 332,000 jobs for Dental Assistant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 64,600 new jobs for Dental Assistant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 45,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Dental Assistant are Arizona, Maryland, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Dental Assistants Make A Lot Of Money?
Dental Assistants make between $26,940 and $54,800 a year.
Dental Assistants who work in Minnesota, New Hampshire, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Dental Assistants make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,650 |
| Alaska | $47,330 |
| Arizona | $40,680 |
| Arkansas | $34,080 |
| California | $41,030 |
| Colorado | $40,390 |
| Connecticut | $44,520 |
| Delaware | $41,060 |
| District of Columbia | $49,220 |
| Florida | $39,590 |
| Georgia | $36,710 |
| Hawaii | $38,860 |
| Idaho | $34,800 |
| Illinois | $39,370 |
| Indiana | $40,790 |
| Iowa | $41,100 |
| Kansas | $37,040 |
| Kentucky | $36,060 |
| Louisiana | $32,340 |
| Maine | $42,250 |
| Maryland | $42,080 |
| Massachusetts | $46,070 |
| Michigan | $37,140 |
| Minnesota | $49,880 |
| Mississippi | $32,900 |
| Missouri | $38,350 |
| Montana | $37,310 |
| Nebraska | $36,860 |
| Nevada | $38,240 |
| New Hampshire | $48,760 |
| New Jersey | $43,110 |
| New Mexico | $34,870 |
| New York | $39,130 |
| North Carolina | $41,790 |
| North Dakota | $46,640 |
| Ohio | $38,960 |
| Oklahoma | $36,550 |
| Oregon | $43,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,200 |
| Rhode Island | $43,710 |
| South Carolina | $39,750 |
| South Dakota | $37,820 |
| Tennessee | $37,610 |
| Texas | $36,820 |
| Utah | $31,280 |
| Vermont | $42,640 |
| Virginia | $44,640 |
| Washington | $43,680 |
| West Virginia | $31,410 |
| Wisconsin | $38,630 |
| Wyoming | $35,220 |
What Tools & Technology do Dental Assistants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Dental Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Intuit Quicken
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
- Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice management software PMS
How to Become a Dental Assistant
What education is needed to be a Dental Assistant?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Assistant?
Who Employs Dental Assistants?
Below are examples of industries where Dental Assistants work:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Dental Assistant might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Dental Assistant sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Dallas Edwards via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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