Trades
Dental Assistants
Medical

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants perform a variety of duties, ranging from providing patient care and taking x-rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments
Dental Assistant
Proud of your pearly whites? Help other people get the same!
Why Should You Consider This Career?

Help improve people's health and loves every day, Work with cutting edge technology, Learn a skill transferable to all 50 states!

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), Oral Surgery Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Surgical Dental Assistant

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.

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
This is some text inside of a div block.
AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), Oral Surgery Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Surgical Dental Assistant
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • 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.
  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
  • 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.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
$
28.07
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Explain technical medical information to patients.
  • Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
  • Operate medical equipment.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Interview patients to gather medical information.
  • Record vital statistics or other health information.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 89/100

  • Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. 85/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 69/100

  • Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 62/100

  • Administrative

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. 61/100

  • Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. 58/100

  • Sales and Marketing

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. 58/100

  • Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. 52/100

  • Personnel and Human Resources

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. 48/100

  • Psychology

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. 43/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

  • Orthodontic pliers
  • Dental handpieces
  • Dental dam supplies
  • Dental forceps
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
  • Dental probes or explorers
  • Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes
  • Dental saliva ejectors or oral suction devices
  • Dental x ray units
  • Dental syringes or needles or syringes with needles
  • Dental lasers
  • Cosmetic dentistry curing lights
  • Orthodontic band drivers or pushers or setters
  • Dental laboratory vacuum units
  • Periodontal curettes
  • Dental scissors
  • Dental radiology films
  • Dental finishing or polishing kits
  • Teeth cleaning devices
  • Chemical or gas sterilizers
  • Dental examination chairs
  • Medical gas cylinders or related devices
  • Dental articulators
  • Pulse oximeter units
  • Medical radiation dosimeters
  • Dental laboratory lathes
  • Dental filler contouring instruments
  • Dental tooth separators
  • Dental x-ray bite blocks or wings or tabs
  • Dental matrices or sets
  • Dental formers
  • Dental laboratory air abrasion units
  • Dry heat or hot air sterilizers
  • Electronic blood pressure units
  • Dental material pluggers or tips
  • Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
  • Bands for dental matrix
  • Dental x ray apparatus parts or kits or accessories
  • Dental laboratory model trimmers
  • Dental instrument sharpening accessories
  • Dental film processors
  • Mercury blood pressure units
  • Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment
  • Dental laboratory casting machines
  • Dental operatory retraction cords
  • Dental burs
  • Dental amalgamators
  • Dental impression trays
  • Dental procedure combination furniture or sets
  • Orthodontic appliance clasps
  • Dental finishing or polishing discs
  • Dental hygiene instruments
  • Dental pulp or vitality testers
  • Dental wedges or sets
  • Dental depth gauges
  • Dental cutting or separating discs
  • Ultrasonic cleaning equipment
  • Dental elevators
  • Dental syringe accessory kits
  • Dental tweezers
  • Air compressors
  • Dental retainers
  • Orthodontic brackets
  • Dental scalers
  • Personal computers
  • Dental spatulas
Related Careers Icon

Helpful Career Links