Here at the Dental Assistant Salary and Career Center we have a simple goal: to provide useful resources to help you best prepare for an exciting career as a dental assistant. While the dental assistant salary can be very rewarding and draws many candidates into the field, the actual day to day work that a dental assistant carries out can be incredibly gratifying. If you have spoken to a dental assistant who is already working in the dental field, then you’ll have probably already heard that this can be a terrific career choice for individuals who are hoping to enter into the field of dentistry or health care in general.

Dental assistants have become a cornerstone of the average dental practice and as such, can find job placements available in all areas of the country. While the dental assistant salary itself can vary widely by the type of size of practice, the duties are often very similar across them. The dental assistant carries out a large number of duties in the average dental practice including:

• Preparing and stocking treatment rooms
• Ensuring that the practice is stocked with adequate dental supplies
• Assisting in educating patients on proper dental hygiene routines
• Sterilizing tools and instruments
• Exposing dental radiographs
• Taking and creating patient impressions
• Mixing the required dental materials for a treatment
• Often they assist with numerous front office administrative and billing tasks

As you can see, the ideal candidate for any dental assistant position will not only have a proper education and background in necessary clinical topics, but will also excel in communicating with patients on an interpersonal level. This will often be the most rewarding part of the job for any dental assistant as you can have a direct impact on the quality of life of your patients.

We hope that you enjoy your visit to the Dental Assistant Salary and Career Center. Please feel free to browse our articles and resource, including our Dental Assistant Jobs page, where you can find a number of openings in your area, as well as our Dental Assisting Programs directory. This resource will allow you to find online certification programs which help to get you on your way to earning a dental assistant salary.

The oral hygiene goal is to prevent dental problems from occurring in the mouth and teeth. Tooth decay has become a huge issue that is common in families today. Brushing, flossing, and taking care of our gums can be difficult and easy to ignore. However, if given the proper help and technique, dental issues such as dental caries, gingivitis, and bad breath could be prevented. Important facts such as which toothbrush works best for you and which tooth paste will help you get the job done, the areas in your mouth that need focus, and how to floss effectively are all things that a local dentist can more than help with.

In today’s society, a regular dental check-up may be difficult for some families. Many are unable to attend the nearest dentist, a lot of individuals would rather not face a fear they have about the dentist, and many are not able to afford the help they need. That is why this new trend of mobile oral care has become so popular. These vans make it possible for everyone to get the care they need! Now there is no excuse to keeping up with your oral health. This dentistry on wheels program allows dental assistants to expand their training and get a true hands-on experience with part of the society that does not have the opportunity that most have to go to and afford a dental visit. Any dental assistant can have a chance to ultimately volunteer their services, in complete hope that the patient will feel better about themselves.

These dental vans are set up just like a dental office and allow assistants to work like they never left the office. Dental assistants still wear the proper attire, wear masks and gloves, and are responsible for the same duties that dental assistants in the office have. These assistants are no different than those in an office; the only thing that separates them from the traditional dental assistant is that they are providing a service for those in need of a little extra help. They thrive off of these mobile opportunities.

A mobile dental assistant has a number of duties. Because of the great state of the art vans that are equipped with all the dental necessities, dental assistants can perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Dental assistants and their fellow team members provide full service dentistry. Each appointment consists of an exam, X-rays and a cleaning, and if needed fillings, extractions and root canals. All of these dental procedures are done professionally and comfortably. Assistants are to help patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their regular visits.

Everyone in the dental field is looking for an opportunity to offer their talents. Assistants have the chance to serve people in the community who are unable to follow up on their own oral hygiene. Assistants and their dental teams care and want the best for every person. They want to help children, elderly and the less fortunate that do not have the means to have assistance with correct dental precautions. These teams give all information needed to keep a healthy mouth. They will give you advice on the correct toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushing techniques, and flossing tips. This mobile trend is affecting lives everywhere. It is an experience that dental assistants, hygienists, and dentist get to share with their patients forever. Because of this great mobile program, oral hygiene issues are being prevented and helped. Reaching out to those in the community that need this type of service gives the dental field a chance to reach for their ultimate goal, oral health!

Many dental assistants pursue volunteer opportunities prior to obtaining a formal career or returning to school. Some choose to use their time abroad as a ‘gap year’ so that they can experience life in another country while also helping others. Volunteering abroad as a dental assistant looks great on a resume too. It is also gives new dental assistants experience to come back to the United States and continue working in the field. Organizations give volunteers the opportunity to go to new places, experience new cultures and meet new people. People in foreign countries who would not receive dental care otherwise are offered significant help from these organizations.

The tasks of a dental assistant volunteer will depend on a variety of factors, including the organization and the volunteer’s experience, skills, training and education. Some volunteers will work on administrative tasks and communicate with other volunteers and patients. Dental assistants take and develop x-rays. They also maintain and update patient histories and other charts. They set up dental rooms before patients come in and clean them after the patient leaves. Volunteers may be responsible for operating, cleaning and adjusting different types of equipment. Any equipment used in the patient’s mouth will be sterilized between uses. If volunteers have experience and education, they may examine teeth, perform cleanings, help the dentist fill and remove teeth and provide moral support for the patients. No matter what the volunteers provide assistance with, confidentiality is extremely important.

There are many agencies and organizations that offer opportunities to potential volunteers, and they work in a variety of locations. Many agencies offer a variety of positions for those with different skill sets and experiences. Dental assistants are in high demand and welcomed by many different volunteer organizations. Most organizations require volunteers who are gentle and can communicate well with patients. They are also required to have a certain amount of experience and the ability to perform specific tasks. While many dental assistants work with volunteer organizations in the United States, there are many more opportunities abroad. Africa is one of the most popular destinations for volunteer dental assistants; each year many travel to Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and other areas. Volunteers also travel to Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Peru remains one of the top places for volunteer medical workers.

Dental assistants should expect that many patients, children and adults, will not speak English fluently, if at all. Dental assistant volunteers will work directly with patients, most likely at a free charity clinic. For this reason, communication, especially body language, is a very important skill. The organization might introduce volunteers to the local language with a brief language course, but volunteers may also be responsible for continuing the process of learning alone. They should also expect that the working environment will vary from location to location and organization to organization. Daily hours range from three to ten hours each day. The living situation will be very different for each volunteer organization. Some volunteers will live with host families and others may live in a dorm setting. Some opportunities last two weeks and others might last a complete year. Volunteers should keep in mind that some clinics will work with people diagnosed with medical conditions such as AIDS, Malaria and TB.

Organizations rely on volunteers because they do not receive enough funding to help those in other countries from other sources. These organizations are constantly looking for volunteers with experience, skills and knowledge necessary to assist those who are in need of medical attention. The process of signing up and and traveling abroad will depend on each organization’s guidelines.

Are you considering pursuing a career as a dental assistant? A dental assistant has a number of important responsibilities that contribute to the smooth day-to-day operations of a dental office. As a dental assistant, you can expect to greet patients, thoroughly respond to any questions or concerns patients may have, educate patients about oral health care, schedule patients for future appointments, take X-rays and work with the dentist to complete various procedures on patients. Clearly, much of a dental assistant’s time is taken up by interacting with patients in a friendly and polite manner. You will have very busy and packed days working as a dental assistant, but the benefits are numerous.

One of the biggest benefits of working as a dental assistant is that there is tremendous job security given that you can do your job well and efficiently. Dentists are frequently in need of quality dental assistants because even despite the challenging economic circumstances, people will require and pay for oral health care. Dentists need good dental assistants who can juggle a number of tasks simultaneously. Another major benefit of working as a dental assistant is that there is absolute room for career advancement. Dental assistants may choose to later become office managers, dental-assisting instructors or dental product sales representatives. With more schooling and training, dental assistants can become dental hygienists or dentists. The on-the-job training you receive as a dental assistant can propel you to different careers in the future. A dental assistant can also expect great fringe benefits, including paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, medical coverage and dental benefits. Working within the healthcare industry is great in terms of the benefits you will receive.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant, you must be prepared to have a number of important duties and responsibilities central to the smooth operations of the dental office. You can also expect some great benefits working as a dental assistant, including having real job security as long as you do your job well; you will have opportunities for career advancement; and you will receive a number of fringe benefits working in the healthcare industry.

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant? If you are really interested in working as a dental assistant, you should feel confident knowing that job prospects are expected to be very strong. Oral health care is important to people and this industry can withstand the challenging economic times we live in. Dental offices will continue to need dental assistants, who play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operations of the office. Dental assistants have several important responsibilities, including treating patients with respect, educating patients about oral health care and aiding dentists with various procedures. It is important you understand more about the work environment and hours involved in working as a dental assistant.

As a dental assistant, you can expect to work in a very nice and comfortable environment that is clean and well lighted. A dental office is geared toward providing a pleasurable experience for patients, which benefits you as a worker. A dental assistant’s work area is typically near the dental chair so they can properly arrange tools and medication as required by the dentist. If you want to become a dental assistant, be prepared to wear gloves, masks, eyewear and protective clothing to safeguard yourself from diseases since you are working in a medical setting. It is very common for dental assistants to work between 35 and 40 hours a week. However, if you do want to become a dental assistant you must prepare for potential fluctuations in hours. Your services may be needed more or less depending on different times of the year. Depending on the dental office you work at, you may need to also work on weekends or evenings.

Working as a dental assistant provides several benefits to you. There is tremendous job security for this position because dentists will always require the help of quality dental assistants. You will have the opportunity to work in a very comfortable environment that is well lighted and relaxing in order to satisfy patients. You must be prepared to wear protective articles of clothing while working as a dental assistant to protect yourself from potential diseases. You should also be prepared to generally work between 35 and 40 hours a week, though this could fluctuate slightly up or down in some instances.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant, you should feel confident knowing that this is a recession-proof career that offers very respectable pay. Despite the current economic challenges we face and high unemployment, people will always require dental care. Dental offices have a number of important tasks that must be completed on a daily basis to ensure smooth operations. This is why a quality dental assistant is a crucial component of any dental office. Are you interested in learning about what a typical day at the office may look like for you? Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect.

A typical day as a dental assistant will absolutely include greeting patients who have sat down in the office and are awaiting their turn with the dentist. It is important that you make patients feel comfortable and address any questions or concerns they may have. You will be responsible for obtaining their records on file so that the dentist can begin work as fast as possible. This contributes to the overall efficiency of the dental office. You must be ready to prepare patients for treatment and to assist the dentist during any procedures by providing him or her with necessary tools and supplies. You will also need to sterilize and disinfect any instruments. It is absolutely important that you maintain a friendly attitude because you will be expected to educate patients about general oral health care following procedures. You can also expect to schedule patients for future appointments. A common example of a process that requires future scheduling is for a cleaning appointment, which is usually done every three months or so.

Working as a dental assistant has many benefits, including strong job security as long as you do a good job as well as a very respectable salary, which can grow once you become more experienced. However, you must really be prepared to have a number of important responsibilities that are vital to the smooth operations of the dental office. You must also remember to get a good night’s sleep in order to handle very busy and packed days.

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant and what to know what a typical dental assistant job description looks like? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental assistants held more than 270,000 jobs in 2009. This total is expected to increase at a faster rate than the average for all occupations through 2014. Strong job prospects really do make pursuing a career as a dental assistant appealing to many. If you do pursue a career as a dental assistant, you must be prepared to have many responsibilities that can vary on a daily basis depending on the needs of the dentist and dental office Let’s take a look at just exactly what you can expect to be doing as a dental assistant.

A standard dental assistant job description means you can expect to have a packed day at work. One of the most important responsibilities you will have as a dental assistant is accommodating the needs of patients. Patients may have questions for you and it is expected that you thoroughly address these questions, as the dentist may be busy with other patients. You will be called on to prepare patients for dental procedures. During these procedures, a dental assistant is expected to aid the dentist by providing the necessary tools and supplies to complete the procedure. A dental assistant will also be responsible for helping patients schedule future appointments. Dental cleanings, for example, can be scheduled several months in advance. A dental assistant should also be able to convey important information to patients pertaining to oral health. While the dentist will analyze patient x-rays, a dental assistant can take the x-ray.

Pursuing a career as a dental assistant can be an excellent choice, as people require dental care regardless of economic circumstances. As a dental assistant, you will be required to juggle a number of tasks simultaneously. The most important responsibility of a dental assistant is to ensure that patients are comfortable and treated properly with respect. It is very important to greet patients and answer their questions. A dental assistant should strive to educate patients about oral health. You can also expect some very technical responsibilities with a dental assistant job, including aiding the dentist during procedures and taking x-rays. Overall, these duties are typical across nearly any dental assistant job description.

Making the decision to pursue a career as a dental assistant can really be an excellent choice and understanding what dental assistant training includes can help you start out in this rewarding career.. Even as we face a challenging economy with high unemployment, people will continue to require and spend on oral health care. As a dental assistant, you can expect to have many different responsibilities and should be prepared to adjust to the needs of the dentist and dental office you work for. One of the benefits of pursuing a career as a dental assistant is that you can really dive right in, as there are no training or formal education requirements to become a dental assistant. Let’s take a look at the pathway to becoming a dental assistant.

High school students interested in beginning dental assistant training should take courses in chemistry, biology and health. If you do seek to pursue further education after high school, the Commission on Dental Accreditation has approved some 280 dental-assisting training programs. These programs typically take one year to complete and provide a good mix of classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction. Those who complete these programs will receive a diploma or certificate. There are also two year dental assistant training programs that are offered by community and technical colleges which will result in an Associate’s Degree. Most dental-assisting training takes place through on-the-job training. The new dental assistant will learn about the following: Proper ways to interact and communicate with patients, appropriate dental terminology, daily tasks that must be completed, scheduling patients and the ways the dentist can be aided during various procedures that will be performed on patients. Working as a dental assistant will also require an ongoing learning process. As new dental technology continues to be introduced, dental assistants will be required to learn the new technology. A good dental assistant is someone who is excited by the idea of learning new things on a constant basis.

If you have decided to pursue a career as a dental assistant, you should feel confident knowing that you have chosen a career that has strong job prospects. After completing high school, you have the choice of completing a one year dental-assisting training program established by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or a two year program at a community or technical college. You can also opt to dive right in and apply for a position where you will learn about dental-assisting through on-the-job training. You should be prepared to learn many new skills in your dental assistant training and stay focused every day on the job.

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant and want to know more about online dental assistant schools? This is a strong, recession-proof career choice that does not require extensive education. High school graduates can obtain entry-level positions as dental assistants. However, some states do require certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), which can be obtained after graduating from an accredited dental assisting program, as determined by the American Dental association (ADA). A combination of on-the-job training supplemented by an ADA approved program can serve as a powerful force to help you become a successful dental assistant. You can opt to complete an online dental assisting program. Let’s take a closer look at this and the benefits online dental assistant schools would provide.

The following sources can provide dental assisting training to you through an online medium: Keiser University, Ultimate Medical Academy Online, Independence University, Fortis Institute and Meditec. Regardless of what online program you consider and ultimately select, it is vital that you select an ADA-accredited program because this is something that prospective employers will favor. There are several advantages to selecting an online dental assisting program. First, it provides far more flexibility than a traditional classroom program would. You can create your own study schedule with an online program. If you are completing on-the-job training simultaneously, this can be incredibly beneficial. You can choose to complete coursework prior to or after your on-the-job training. Secondly, an online program would give you 24/7 access to course material online. You can access course material through any computer that has an Internet connection. Lastly, online courses have come a long way in terms of providing students a truly interactive experience. Completing an ADA-accredited online dental assisting program will provide you with the knowledge necessary to pass the state licensure exams.

If you are interested in working as a dental assistant or are currently working as one, you may consider completing a program from online dental assistant schools. Many states require dental assistants to obtain certification through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), which can be obtained after graduating from an accredited dental assisting program. The online route would provide far more convenience than a traditional classroom setting.

Are you currently working in one of the nearly 300,000 dental assistant jobs in The U.S.? Are you interested in further career advancement? There are several opportunities you have to advance your career. You have to make an important decision, however, which is whether or not you are willing able to pursue further education. Let’s take a closer look at the options you have to advance your career to the next level.

Dental assistants can proceed to become office managers, dental-assisting instructors or dental product sales representatives. However, the reality is that further education is required for significant career advancement in dental assistant jobs. A common career that many dental assistances advance to is that of dental hygienist. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 300 dental hygiene programs approved by the American Dental Association’s commission on Dental Accreditation in 2008. Prospective dental hygienists can two years of coursework at community colleges or dental schools. Students will gain familiarity with such concepts as pre-clinical hygiene and orofacial anatomy. In order to pursue positions in clinical practice or the teaching field, it is necessary to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree. When earning a bachelor’s degree, be prepared to take courses in dental hygiene procedures. If you are pursuing a master’s degree, be prepared to be exposed to research and theory in the dental hygiene field. All prospective dental hygienists will have to ultimately earn state licensure.

Of course, working as a dental assistant may have inspired you to become a dentist. After all, dental assistants work closely with dentists to complete various procedures on patients. You must be prepared to complete extensive further education to become a dentist. You must complete a bachelor’s degree preferable in a pre-dental program. It is important that you maintain a high grade point average, as it will weigh heavily in the admission process to dental school. You will have to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and then apply to accredited dental schools. You grade point average, DAT scores and recommendations will be critical in the admissions process.

Dental assistants do have the opportunity for career advancement based on the training they receive from their dental assistant jobs. Two common advanced career paths include becoming a dental hygienist or dentist.

It is no secret that we live in extremely challenging economic times with historically high unemployment and if you’re interested in a dental assisting career, you may be asking yourself “How much do dental assistants make?”. It has become very difficult to secure employment given these circumstances combined with a hyper-active job market. One possible recession-proof career you may want to consider pursuing is that of a dental assistant. A dental assistant is integral to maintaining a smoothly run dental office. A dental assistant has a variety of important responsibilities, including taking x-rays, educating patients about oral health care and aiding the dentist perform procedures on patients. Job prospects for dental assistants are expected to be strong and the salary can be worthwhile given the minimal educational and training requirements for dental assistants. Let’s take a closer look.

Job prospects look to be outstanding for dental assistants, as dentists continue to have heavy workloads regardless of economic circumstances. Patients will always require oral health care and this fact bodes very well for prospective dental assistants. Prospects look strong for both entry-level assistants as well as more experienced and skills ones. The Bureau of Labor Statistics actually anticipates dental assistants to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the next decade and predicted employment to grow 36 percent from 2008-2018. If you are asking yourself “Just how much do dental assistants make?”, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly wage of dental assistants was roughly $32,000 in May 2008. The bottom 10 percent earned approximately $22,000 and the top 10 percent earned about $46,000. It really is possible to earn a decent living as a dental assistant especially when you take into consideration the fact that educational and training requirements are not very rigorous. It is possible to receive on-the-job training for an entry level dental assistant position after high school. If you do become a dental assistant, you may even advance your career by becoming a dental hygienist or dentist down the road.

It is important to pursue recession-proof careers given the challenging economic times we live in. It is possible to earn a very solid living as a dental assistant. You can pursue this career path after completing high school. You may even consider advancing to a career as a dental hygienist or dentist down the road after gaining valuable experience working as a dental assistant. Hopefully, this article has helped answer the question “So how much do dental assistants make anyway?”