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Dental Assistants in Idaho

Dental Assistants in Idaho

Want to work as a Dental Assistants in Idaho? Here’s what you need to know. Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

What do Dental Assistants Make in Idaho?

For a dental assistants working in Idaho, the median annual wage is $39,460 per year (or roughly $18.97/hour).Annual wages span from $33,630 at the 10th percentile to $58,520 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $33,630 $16.17
25th percentile $36,980 $17.78
Median (50th) $39,460 $18.97
75th percentile $47,000 $22.60
90th percentile $58,520 $28.14
Salary ranges for Dental Assistants in Idaho

The job concentration index in Idaho relative to the national average — is 1.39, indicating that dental assistants are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, dental assistants earn a median of $25,445 per year ($12.23/hour), above the Idaho median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 535,056 dental assistants in the U.S.. In Idaho alone, about 2,860 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 4,450 dental assistants.

Forecasted number of jobs for Dental Assistants

Top Idaho Metros for Dental Assistants

These are the Idaho metros with the most dental assistants in Idaho.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Boise City, ID 1,020 $44,360
Idaho Falls, ID 370 $37,560
Coeur d'Alene, ID 330 $44,000
Twin Falls, ID 220 $37,800
Pocatello, ID 180 $37,300
Lewiston, ID-WA 110 $45,980

Top States for Dental Assistants Employment

These states have the highest employment of dental assistants work.

State Number Employed
California 54,580
Texas 31,360
Florida 23,020
New York 19,700
Illinois 15,620
Washington 13,330
Pennsylvania 12,410
Michigan 11,830
Ohio 11,130
North Carolina 11,100
Virginia 11,040
New Jersey 10,660
Georgia 9,730
Massachusetts 9,250
Colorado 7,720
Arizona 7,480
Missouri 7,380
Wisconsin 6,720
Maryland 6,520
Tennessee 6,370

Highest-Paying States for Dental Assistants

The highest-paying states for dental assistants.

State Annual Median Salary
Minnesota $64,630
Massachusetts $57,960
Oregon $57,720
Washington $57,040
District of Columbia $56,500
Alaska $55,950
Maine $51,340
North Dakota $51,310
Vermont $51,020
Connecticut $50,820

Skills

The most important dental assistants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.4 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.2 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.1 / 5
0
5
Instructing  3.1 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.5 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  4.4 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.8 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  3.5 / 5
0
5
Administrative  3.5 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  3.3 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for dental assistants, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Near Vision  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speech Recognition  3.8 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.5 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.4 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
  • Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
  • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
  • Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
  • Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
  • Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
  • Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
  • Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
  • Pour, trim, and polish study casts.

Work Activities

  • Getting Information
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Working with Computers
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Scheduling Work and Activities
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Henry Schein Dentrix In-demand technologies: Henry Schein Dentrix

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Dental Support Services

Related occupations to dental assistants include:

Also Known As

Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Aide, Dental Assistant (DA), Dental Nurse, Dental Office Assistant, Dental Specialist, Dentist Attendant, Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duties Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), General Practical Dental Assistant, Oral Surgery Assistant.

References

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