Dental Assistants
At a glance
- Median Salary$36,407
- Local Jobs505
Entry-Level Education
Certification
Occupation Profile
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 and provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
By the Numbers
Median annual earnings$36,407
Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupationLocal Jobs505
Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupationEntry-level educationCertification
Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupation
Daily 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.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
- Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
- Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
- Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
- Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
- Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
- Clean and polish removable appliances.
Occupational Skills
What skills are necessary for a Dental Assistants career?
Hard Skills
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Coronal Polishing
- Dentistry
- Dynamic Business Process Management
- Front Office
- Patient Education And Counseling
- Patient Preparation
- Patient Treatment
- Radiography
- Sterilization
Soft Skills
- Communications
- Customer Service
- Innovation
- Interpersonal Communications
- Leadership
- Multilingualism
- Operations
- Self-Motivation
- Spanish Language
- Verbal Communication Skills
Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.
Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.
Educational Programs
Dental Assistants
Del Mar College
| Type | Credential | Hrs | Online | Financial Aid |
| Credit | AAS degree | 1440 | Yes | Yes |
Clinical Dental Assistant
Coastal Bend College
| Type | Credential | Hrs | Online | Financial Aid |
| Certificate | Cert | 300 | Yes | No |
Administrative Dental Assistant
Coastal Bend College
| Type | Credential | Hrs | Online | Financial Aid |
| Certificate | Cert | 150 | Yes | No |
Dental Hygiene
Coastal Bend College
| Type | Credential | Hrs | Online | Financial Aid |
| CTE | AAS | 68 | No | Yes |
Learn more aboutDental Assistants
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