Activities	Perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They assist dentists, set up patient and equipment, and keep records.
Outlook	Faster-than-average-job growth
Median Income	$33,470 per year in May 2010
Work Context & Conditions	Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed.
Minimum Education Requirements	Academic High School Program
Skills	Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Time Management, Equipment Maintenance, Active Learning, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Speaking
Abilities	Oral Expression, Near Vision, Written Expression, Oral Comprehension
Interviews	Christopher Beadle

Job Category		Healthcare Support
Job Description		Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They work chairside as dentists examine and treat patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain dental records. Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists, and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. Assistants also sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare tray setups for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care. Some dental assistants prepare materials for making impressions and restorations, expose radiographs, and process dental x-ray film as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment. Those with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions taken by dentists, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Dental assistants with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials. Dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform different clinical tasks.
Working Conditions		Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Dental assistants wear uniforms, as well as gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases. Following safety procedures also minimizes the risks associated with the use of radiographic equipment. Almost half of dental assistants have a 35 to 40 hour work week, which may include work on Saturdays or evenings. They work indoors in environmentally controlled conditions, must be very exact and highly accurate in performing their jobs, use their hands to handle and control tools and controls, and must wear common protective and safety equipment such as safety glasses and gloves.
Salary Range		The median annual wage of dental assistants was $33,470 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,680, and the top 10 percent earned more than $47,090

Education Required		Most assistants learn their skills on the job, though some are trained in dental assisting programs offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, technical institutes, or the Armed Forces. Dental assistants must be a dentist's "third hand." Therefore, dentists look for people who are reliable, can work well with others, and have good manual dexterity. High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, health, and office practices. The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation approved 285 dental-assisting training programs in 2011. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. In addition, students gain practical experience in dental schools, clinics, or dental offices. Most programs take 1 year or less to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree. All programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and some require science or computer-related courses for admission. A number of private vocational schools offer 4- to 6-month courses in dental assisting, but the Commission on Dental Accreditation does not accredit these programs. Without further education, advancement opportunities are limited. Some dental assistants become office managers, dental-assisting instructors, or dental product sales representatives. Others go back to school to become dental hygienists. For many, this entry-level occupation provides basic training and experience and serves as a steppingstone to more highly skilled and higher paying jobs.
Recommended High School Courses		Biology, Clerical, Chemistry
Postsecondary Instructional Programs		Medicine and Dentistry
Certification and Licensing		Most States regulate the duties that dental assistants are allowed to perform through licensure or registration. Licensure or registration may require passing a written or practical examination. Many States require continuing education to maintain licensure or registration. A few States allow dental assistants to perform any function delegated to them by the dentist. Individual States have adopted different standards for dental assistants who perform certain advanced duties, such as radiological procedures. States offering licensure or registration have a variety of schools offering courses—approximately 10 to 12 months in length—that meet their State’s requirements. Completion of the Radiation Health and Safety examination offered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) meets those standards in 37 States. Some states require the completion of a state-approved course in radiology as well. Certification is available through DANB and is recognized or required in 30 States. Other organizations offer registration, most often at the state level. Certification is an acknowledgment of an assistant's qualifications and professional competence, and may be an asset when seeking employment. Candidates may qualify to take the DANB certification examination by graduating from an accredited training program or by having 2 years of full-time, or 4 years of part-time, experience as a dental assistant. In addition, applicants must have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Recertification is offered annually for applicants who have earned continuing education credits.

Interest Area		Social Involves working and communicating with, helping, and teaching people.
Work Values		Moral Values Never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong. Social Service Do things for other people. Security Have steady employment.
Skills		Social Perceptiveness Be aware of others' reactions and understand why they react the way they do. Active Listening Listen to what other people are saying and ask questions as appropriate. Time Management Manage one's own time and the time of others. Equipment Maintenance Perform routine maintenance and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. Active Learning Work with new material or information to grasp its implications. Coordination Adjust actions in relation to others' actions. Reading Comprehension Understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. Speaking Talk to others to effectively convey information.
Abilities		Oral Expression Able to convey information and ideas through speech in ways that others will understand. Near Vision Able to see details of objects at a close range (within a few feet of the observer). Written Expression Able to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Oral Comprehension Able to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Related Jobs		Dentist, Orthodontist, Dentist, Prosthodontist, Dental Hygienist, Technician, Radiologic, Technologist, Surgical, Technologist, Radiologic
Job Outlook		Dental assistants held about 297,200 jobs in 2010. Almost all jobs for dental assistants were in offices of dentists. A small number of jobs were in the Federal, State, and local governments or in offices of physicians. About 2 out of 5 dental assistants worked part time, sometimes in more than one dental office. Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. Employment is expected to grow 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2010-2020 projection period. In addition, numerous job openings will occur due to the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Many opportunities are for entry-level positions offering on-the-job training. Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who are less likely to employ assistants, will leave and be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one, or even two. In addition, as dentists' workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more profitable procedures.
More Information		American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Dental Assistants Association, Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., American Medical Association - Health Care Careers
References		Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Dental Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm O*NET OnLine, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/31-9091.00