Dental Assistants

Summary

Dental assistants work closely with dentists.

Quick Facts: Dental Assistants
2010 Median Pay	$33,470 per year $16.09 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Postsecondary non-degree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	297,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	31% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	91,600

What Dental Assistants Do

Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from patient care to record keeping, in a dental office. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.

Work Environment

Almost all dental assistants work in dentists' offices. More than half work full time.

How to Become a Dental Assistant

There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and possibly pass a state exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements. Dental assistants who do not have formal education in dental assisting may learn their duties through on-the-job training. The dentist or other dental assistants in the office teach the new assistant dental terminology, the names of the instruments, how to do daily tasks, how to interact with patients, and other activities necessary to help keep the dental office running smoothly. Most states regulate what dental assistants may do, but that varies by state.

Pay

The median annual wage of dental assistants was $33,470 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of dental assistants with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about dental assistants by contacting these additional resources.

What Dental Assistants Do About this section

Assistants prepare and organize tools needed by dentists to work on a patient.

Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from patient care to record keeping, in a dental office. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.

Duties

Dental assistants typically do the following:

• Work with patients to make them comfortable in the dental chair and to prepare them for treatments and procedures
• Sterilize dental instruments
• Prepare the work area for patient treatment by setting out instruments and materials
• Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures
• Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses or other equipment
• Instruct patients in proper dental hygiene
• Process x rays and do lab tasks under the direction of a dentist
• Keep records of dental treatments
• Schedule patient appointments
• Work with patients on billing and payment

Assistants who do lab tasks, such as making casts of a patient’s teeth, work under the direction of a dentist. They might prepare materials for a cast of teeth or create temporary crowns.

All dental assistants do tasks such as helping dentists with procedures and keeping patient records, but there are four regulated tasks that assistants may also be able to do, depending on the state where they work.

• Coronal polishing
• Sealant application
• Fluoride application
• Topical anesthetics application

Coronal polishing, which means removing soft deposits such as plaque, gives teeth a cleaner appearance. In sealant application, dental assistants paint a thin, plastic substance over teeth that seals out food particles and acid-producing bacteria to keep teeth from developing cavities. Fluoride application, in which fluoride is put directly on the teeth, is another anti-cavity measure. For topical anesthetics application, some dental assistants may be qualified to apply topical anesthetic to an area of the patient’s mouth, temporarily numbing the area.

Not all states allow dental assistants to do these tasks. Each state regulates the scope of practice for dental assistants and may require them to take specific exams or meet other requirements before allowing them to do these procedures.

Work Environment About this section

Dental assistants provide support to dentists as they work on patients.

Dental assistants held about 297,200 jobs in 2010. Almost all dental assistants work in dentists' offices. Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists and may work closely with dental hygienists in their day-to-day activities. For more information, see the profiles on dentists and dental hygienists.

Dental assistants wear safety glasses, surgical masks, protective clothing, and gloves to protect themselves and patients from infectious diseases. They must also follow safety procedures to minimize risks associated with x-ray machines.

Work Schedules

Most dental assistants work full time. However, almost 2 in 5 assistants worked part time in 2010. Some work evenings or weekends, depending on the hours of operation at the office where they work.

How to Become a Dental Assistant About this section

Dental assistants hand tools to dentists as they work on patients.

There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and possibly pass a state exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements. Dental assistants who do not have formal education in dental assisting may learn their duties through on-the-job training. The dentist or other dental assistants in the office teach the new assistant dental terminology, the names of the instruments, how to do daily tasks, how to interact with patients, and other activities necessary to help keep the dental office running smoothly. Most states regulate what dental assistants may do, but that varies by state.

Education                                          

High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, and anatomy. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass a state exam. Most programs take about 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma and are offered by community colleges. Two-year programs, also offered in community colleges, are less common and lead to an associate’s degree. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), part of the American Dental Association, approved more than 285 dental-assisting training programs in 2011.

Accredited programs include classroom and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, gums, jaws, and other areas that dentists work on and the instruments that dentists use. These programs also include supervised, practical experience.

In other states, there are no formal educational requirements to become an entry-level dental assistant. Contact your state board of dentistry for specific requirements.

Certification

Some states require dental assistants to be certified; requirements vary by state. To get certification, dental assistants must pass the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). To take the exam, dental assistants must have graduated from an accredited program or have graduated high school and completed the required amount of on-the-job training. Applicants must also have current certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Licenses

Some states require that dental assistants be licensed or register with DANB to complete regulated tasks, such as coronal polishing, in a dentist’s office; requirements vary by state. Contact your state board of dentistry for specific requirements.

Important Qualities

Detail oriented­. Dental assistants must follow specific rules and protocols to help dentists treat a patient. Assistants must be aware of what practices they are allowed to do in the state where they work.

Interpersonal skills. Dental assistants must work closely with dentists and patients. Sometimes patients are in extreme pain or mental stress, and the assistant must be sensitive to their emotions.

Listening skills. Dental assistants must have good listening skills. They need to follow directions from a dentist or dental hygienist so they can help treat patients and do tasks such as taking an x ray.

Organizational skills. Dental assistants must have excellent organizational skills. They should have the correct tools in place for a dentist or dental hygienist to use when treating a patient.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of dental assistants was $33,470 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,680, and the top 10 percent earned more than $47,090.

Most dental assistants work full time. However, almost 2 in 5 assistants worked part time in 2010. Some work evenings or weekends, depending on the hours of operation at the office where they work.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. Dentists will continue to hire more dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing the dentist to see more patients in their practice and spend their time on more complex procedures. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.

As the large baby-boom population ages, and as people keep more of their original teeth than did previous generations, the need to maintain and treat teeth will continue to increase the need for dental assistants.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about becoming a dental assistant and for a list of accredited dental assistant programs, visit

Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Association

For more information about becoming a Certified Dental Assistant and for a list of state boards of dentistry, visit

Dental Assisting National Board