Dental Assistants

Also Called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

What Dental Assistants do

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.

  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

Dental Assistant • OCT-Only Health Care

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Work Context

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  • Physical Proximity
  • Contact With Others
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections
  • Work With Work Group or Team

Tools

  • Orthodontic pliers
  • Dental hand pieces or accessories
  • Dental dam supplies
  • Dental forceps
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizers

Technology

Medical software
Henry Schein Dentrix
Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
Email software

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Service Orientation

Knowledge

Health
medicine and dentistry
Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
customer service
Education and Training
teaching and course design

Education

  • 63% Post-secondary certificate
  • 12% Associate's degree
  • 9% High school diploma or equivalent

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

  • Conventional (Organizer)
  • Realistic (Doer)
  • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Hand and Finger Use
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Dental Assistants across the country typically make.

$17.05 / hour
$35,470 /year

Entry Level

$22.38 / hour
$46,540 /year

Median Level

$29.35 / hour
$61,060 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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