Dental Assistant Profile
Significant Points
- An associates degree or certificate is generally required for Dental Assisting careers.
- Job opportunities are expected to be favorable.
- The average dental assistant made about $32,280 in 7004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Career Overview
On any given day, dental assistants can be found in the lab, office area, or treatment area. Assistants are trusted with patient information and medical records, and are often responsible for making patients feel comfortable and welcome from the waiting room to the treatment area. After treatment is complete, a dental assistant can return to administer fluoride and instruct the patient on proper postoperative and general oral health care.
About half of all dental assistants work a 35 to 40-hour week. The remainder have variable schedules, sometimes working Saturdays or evenings. Some dental assistants work at multiple dental offices and travel between them on a daily or weekly basis.
On any given day, dental assistants can be found in the lab, office area, or treatment area. Assistants are trusted with patient information and medical records, and are often responsible for making patients feel comfortable and welcome from the waiting room to the treatment area. After treatment is complete, a dental assistant can return to administer fluoride and instruct the patient on proper postoperative and general oral health care.
About half of all dental assistants work a 35 to 40-hour week. The remainder have variable schedules, sometimes working Saturdays or evenings. Some dental assistants work at multiple dental offices and travel between them on a daily or weekly basis.
Related Medical and Healthcare Programs
Pharmacy Technician
| Medical Billing and Coding
| Healthcare Administration
Nurses Assistant
| Physical Therapist
| Medical Imaging
Opportunities have never been better in Healthcare for individuals with the proper training. These other Healthcare careers offer strong growth potential as well.
Education and Training
High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, health, and office practices. For those wishing to pursue further education, the Commission on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental Association (ADA) approved 269 dental-assisting training programs in 2006. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics, or dental offices. Most programs take 1 year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree. All programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and some require science or computer-related courses for admission.
Below is a partial list of duties for which you will be responsible in a dental assisting job:
High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, health, and office practices. For those wishing to pursue further education, the Commission on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental Association (ADA) approved 269 dental-assisting training programs in 2006. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics, or dental offices. Most programs take 1 year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree. All programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and some require science or computer-related courses for admission.
Below is a partial list of duties for which you will be responsible in a dental assisting job:
- Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
- Taking and developing dental x-rays
- Asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse
- Serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol, and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment
- Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
- Providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)
- Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (such as toothbrushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
- Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
- Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a computer
- Communicating with patients and suppliers (such as scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)
Employment and Job Outlook
Employment is expected to grow 29 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants or have employed fewer, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or more assistants. In addition, as dentists workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures.
Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. In addition to job openings due to employment growth, numerous job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons. Many opportunities for entry-level positions offer on-the-job training, but some dentists prefer to hire experienced assistants or those who have completed a dental-assisting program.
Over 283,000 dental assistants were employed nationwide in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment is expected to increase 29 percent through 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 82,000 jobs in total are expected to be added to the dental assistant workforce.
Employment is expected to grow 29 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants or have employed fewer, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or more assistants. In addition, as dentists workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures.
Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. In addition to job openings due to employment growth, numerous job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons. Many opportunities for entry-level positions offer on-the-job training, but some dentists prefer to hire experienced assistants or those who have completed a dental-assisting program.
Over 283,000 dental assistants were employed nationwide in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment is expected to increase 29 percent through 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 82,000 jobs in total are expected to be added to the dental assistant workforce.
Earnings
In 2007, dental assistants earned mean annual salaries of $32,280, the BLS reports. Hourly wages were $15.52, although assistants working in specialty hospitals earned slightly higher wages, at $16.57. Alaska and the District of Columbia were the highest paying areas for dental assistants, with annual earnings of $40,450 and $40,190, respectively.
In 2007, dental assistants earned mean annual salaries of $32,280, the BLS reports. Hourly wages were $15.52, although assistants working in specialty hospitals earned slightly higher wages, at $16.57. Alaska and the District of Columbia were the highest paying areas for dental assistants, with annual earnings of $40,450 and $40,190, respectively.