Career Specializations

There are no concrete specializations within the dental assistant career, although dental assistants may perform a varied array of duties, depending on the office where they are employed. Some assistants also do office work, such as answering phones, along with working beside dentists during procedures and doing prep work in the exam room. Dental assistants have distinct responsibilities from dental hygienists, who are licensed to do a different set of patient care procedures.

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Degree Levels Available for Dental Assistant

• Certificate or Diploma: 1 year to complete
• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete

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Education & Certification Requirements

There are several educational paths that can lead to a career in dental assisting. Some dental offices train new hires on the job, and high school course work in biology, health sciences, and related areas can be helpful for individuals who choose this path. The dentist or an experienced dental assistant will train the new hire in the various responsibilities required of them in the office and clinic. It typically takes a few months for new hires to learn all of the required skills of the dental assistant.

For those interested in formal education, one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees in dental assisting are offered by a number of community colleges and technical schools. The one-year program focuses on oral health, medical science, and practical clinical techniques that dental assistants will use in the field. Associate programs also include liberal arts courses, in areas such as English, math, and natural science, along with the career-oriented training included in the certificate program. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredits one and two year programs in dental assisting.

The required licensure for dental assistants depends on the state where they will practice. Some states have no licensure requirements, while others license assistants who perform x-rays or other particular procedures. The Certified Dental Assistant credential is used in many states to license and accredit dental assistants. To qualify to take this test, individuals must have graduated from a CODA recognized program, and have the equivalent of two years of full-time dental assisting experience. (BLS)

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Salary Information

Those with formal academic training in dental assisting can expect to earn salaries of $33,000-40,000 a year. Individuals who are trained on the job can expect initial salaries at around $27,000, until they become proficient. The District of Columbia is the highest-paying area for dental assistants, with average wages of $48,000, followed by Alaska, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, with wages of $41,000-42,000 a year. (BLS)

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Job Outlook

Dental assistants are predicted to have one of the best job outlooks of all U.S. occupations during the 2008-2018 period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for dental services will be steadily growing, as more people keep their natural teeth into old age, and a younger generation focuses on preventative dental care.

Furthermore, recent graduates of dental schools are being trained in assistive dentistry, in which the dentist works with the help of an assistant on many clinical tasks; thus, new dentists will be hiring a greater number of dental assistants. More dental assistants will also be hired as the demand for dental services increases, and assistants will be needed to handle the higher volume of patients.

The huge growth in new jobs means that job opportunities should be excellent. However, dental assistants who have completed a formal training program, and who have some clinical experience, will have better prospects. Those who are licensed to perform X-rays and other additional tasks may also have better employment opportunities. (BLS)

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Related Careers

Medical assistants perform an analogous role to dental assistants, within a physician's office. Some medical assistants perform only administrative functions, while others are also trained to do basic clinical tasks, such as taking patient histories and noting symptoms. Job opportunities for medical assistants are also predicted to be excellent in the coming years.

Medical office administrators are responsible for keeping the many non-clinical aspects of the doctor's office up and running. They may bill insurers and key in patient diagnoses, schedule appointments, and keep the office's books up to date. Some administrators may perform duties involved in patient intake, such as measuring vital signs.

Medical billing and coding specialists work with many healthcare organizations, from doctors' offices to pharmacies and insurance companies. These experts understand the three-digit coding systems used to transform patient diagnoses into insurance claims that are sent to private insurance companies and Medicare. Many coders need to be versed in several different coding systems, used for different types of healthcare offices.

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