What Is It Like To Work As A Dental Assistant?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Dental assistants dip their hands into many aspects of patient care. If you become a dental assistant, you’ll likely work with

patients within a dental office

. Plus, you’ll likely be responsible for handling lab duties and assisting dentists. … Assisting the dentist in various treatments and procedures.

Is dental assistant a stressful job?


The job can be stressful

, largely because patients feel apprehensive when sitting in a dental chair. Similar to dentists or dental hygienists, assistants spend a large part of their workday standing, crouched over the head and mouth of a patient.

Is dental assistant a good job?

The dental industry is a great career choice that offers

security, good pay

, and a rewarding feeling of helping others. … Dental assistants perform several essential tasks ranging from taking x-rays, record keeping to providing patient care, and serve a crucial role within the dental office.

Are dental assistants happy?


Dental assistants are below average when it

comes to happiness. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, dental assistants rate their career happiness 3.0 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 32% of careers.

Do you make good money as a dental assistant?

Dental Assistants made a

median salary of $40,080 in

2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $48,550 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $33,440.

What are 10 duties of a dental assistant?

  • Assisting with dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, and extractions.
  • Taking & pouring dental impressions (molds of the mouth)
  • Preparing patients for surgery.
  • Operating equipment and monitors.
  • Talking with patients.
  • Performing administrative tasks.
  • Preparing examination areas.

How much does a dental assistant make an hour?

Dental Assistant Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Dental Assistants earn an average salary of about $40,000 per year, and an average hourly wage

of $19.00 per hour

. These rates can vary depending on your employer, experience, and location.

What career is the happiest?

The firm’s data shows the happiest career sector is

information technology

, with a majority (73%) of workers reporting positive feelings. And surprisingly, some workers on which the pandemic took the heaviest toll were also among the happiest, such as doctors and teachers.

What is the highest paying dental assistant job?

What is the highest paying dental assisting job? The highest annual pay for a Dental Assistant in the U.S as of May 2018 was

$54,800

while the median and lowest pay was $38,660 and $26,940 respectively.

How hard is it to get a dental assistant job?

Is dental assistant school difficult? Most students find

dental assistant training somewhat challenging

. … Those who pay close attention to all the details will find training and work as a dental assistant comes completely natural. Students with top-notch listening skills also succeed in dental assistant school.

Does a dental assistant clean teeth?

Dental assistants receive training to do basic oral health procedures, but they can’t perform invasive ones.

By law, they can’t clean teeth because

this practice requires specialized oral health training. Furthermore, they can’t perform any task that would require them to use a drill or dental prick.

Can you have tattoos as a dental assistant?

Remember that

your practice generally can instigate any dress code you wish

, which includes tattoos, as long as it doesn’t discriminate against employees or applicants based on protected statuses. So, if you prefer staff to have no visible tattoos or piercings, you can certainly do that.

What is the average age of a dental assistant?

The average age of an employed registered dental assistant is

38 years old

. The most common ethnicity of registered dental assistants is White (52.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (30.7%) and Asian (7.0%).

What is the highest paid dentist?

The highest-paid dental specialty is

oral and maxillofacial surgery

. Surgeons, including oral and maxillofacial surgeons, make a national average salary of $288,550 per year. These professionals are highly trained in both dental care and medical surgery.

How do dental assistants make the most?

  1. Take on More Responsibilities. Dental assistants with more experience and more credentials tend to earn more per hour than those who are new to the field. …
  2. Earn DANB Certification. …
  3. Consider Your Practice Type and Job Location. …
  4. Do Your Research. …
  5. Build Your Experience.

Who makes more money a medical assistant or dental assistant?

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) attests that

dental aides

made a higher median income compared to medical assistants in 2018. That year, dental aides earned a median salary of $38, 660 while medical aides made a median of $33, 610.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.