Find Healthcare Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Dental Assistant

Find Schools Near

What Does it Take to Be a Dental Assistant?

Position Description Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.

Dental Assistant Responsibilities

  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
  • Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
  • Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
  • Clean teeth, using dental instruments.

Dental Assistant 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.

Types of Dental Assistant Jobs

  • Dentist Attendant
  • Oral Surgery Assistant
  • Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
  • Dental Aide
  • Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant)

What Kind of Dental Assistant Job Opportunities Are There?

There were about 332,000 jobs for Dental Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 45,900 yearly job openings in this field.

undefined

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?

The salary for Dental Assistants ranges between about $26,940 and $54,800 a year.

undefined

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

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 or degrees do I need to become a Dental Assistant?

undefined

How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Assistant?

undefined

Dental Assistants Sector

undefined

Dental Assistants work in the following industries:

undefined

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Dental Assistant might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as a Dental Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Sgt. Dallas Edwards via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Healthcare Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited healthcare schools across the U.S.