Dental Assistants

Overview

Dental Assistants has a national median salary of $48,070 per year, with +7.4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
• Record treatment information in patient records.
• Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
• Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Working with Computers
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Scheduling Work and Activities

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a postsecondary certificate as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a postsecondary certificate.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Dental Assistants:

Video Resources