What is a Dental Assistant?
Position Description Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.
List of Dental Assistant Job Duties
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
- Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
- Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
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What Every Dental Assistant Should Know
These are the skills Dental Assistants say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Types of Dental Assistant Jobs
- Dental Aide
- Dental Assistant (DA)
- Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant)
- Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA)
- Dentist Attendant
Job Outlook for Dental Assistants
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 332,000 jobs in the United States for Dental Assistant. 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. There will be an estimated 45,900 positions for Dental Assistant per 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.
Salary for a Dental Assistant
The salary for Dental Assistants ranges between about $26,940 and $54,800 a year.
Dental Assistants who work in Minnesota, New Hampshire, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Dental Assistants 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Dental Assistants
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Dental Assistants:
- 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
Becoming a Dental Assistant
Learn what Dental Assistant education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Dental Assistants Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Dental Assistants employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
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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