Dental Assistant Job Description, Salary & Duties

Dental Assistant Job Description, Salary, Duties: They have to welcome and accommodate patients in the dental clinic.

Have you ever wondered what a Dental Assistant might be? What do their jobs entail? Well, look no further. This article will provide you with a complete guide on what a dental assistant is, their duties, salaries, the companies that pay the most, and what prior job background you need to have, which will grant you higher chances of getting a Dental Assistant job.

Dental Assistant Job Description

With the job title, you may have guessed by now what a Dental Assistant does. They assist the dentist in the dental procedure. They help set up the lab and prepare the patients for the procedure. They ensure all the tools for the job are clean and available in the operation room. They also keep a record of the patients’ procedures and work under the directions of the supervisor. They may also act as agents of communication between the dentist and the patient or the dentist and other supervisors.

Job Duties:

The above description is just a base of the further duties mentioned below:

• They have to welcome and accommodate patients in the dental clinic.
• They have to prepare the patient for the procedure and ensure that they are comfortable during the procedure.
• A Dental Assistant has to choose the appropriate tools for the procedure and arrange these tools as per the medical guidelines.
• They have to mandatorily sterilize all the equipment before and after the procedure by the medical and state regulations and guidelines.
• In case the dentist may require you to operate with the (known as 4 handed dentistry), you should cooperate and work in unison with them.
• You should perform the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care of the patient and maintain the patient’s oral hygiene until the patient is under your care.
• You should keep a tab on all the stocks of the clinic and make orders when deemed necessary.
• You have to collaborate with vendors to purchase stocks.
• You will have to schedule your supervisor’s appointments and checkups.
• You have to prepare the patients’ records and carry out their transactions with the clinic you are working in.
• You have to ensure your clinic is clean and sterilized at all times. You must follow the guidelines of safety.

Salary Of A Dental Assistant In The United States:

The salary of a Dental Assistant ranges from their experience in the field to their knowledge. A Dental Assistant’s average salary in the United States is $34,439, with the top 10 percent at an entry-level earning over $46,000 per year while the bottom 10 percent earn under $25,000 per year. On an hourly basis, a Dental Assistant earns an average of $17 per hour. 

1. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Portland in the state of Orion earns an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $34,000 to $51,000 per year.
2. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Boston in Massachusetts earns an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $33,000 to $51,000 per year.
3. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Anchorage in the state of Arkansas earns an average salary of $41,000 per year with a salary range from $34,000 to $48,000 per year.
4. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Rochester in the state of New Hampshire earns an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $33,000 to $49,000 per year.
5. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Washington in the District of Columbia earns an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $48,000 per year.
6. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Seattle in Washington earns an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $48,000 per year.
7. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Minneapolis in the state of Minnesota earns an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $47,000 per year.
8. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Portland in the state of Maine earns an average salary of $39,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $47,000 per year.
9. A Dental Assistant working in Baltimore’s city in the state of Maryland earns an average salary of $38,000 per year with a salary range from $31,000 to $46,000 per year.
10. A Dental Assistant working in Richmond’s city in the state of Virginia earns an average salary of $38,000 per year with a salary range from $31,000 to $46,000 per year.
11. A Dental Assistant working in the city of New York in the state of New York earns an average salary of $37,000 per year with a salary range from $30,000 to $46,000 per year.
12. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Las Vegas in the state of Nevada earns an average salary of $37,000 per year with a salary range from $30,000 to $44,000 per year.
13. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania earns an average salary of $37,000 per year with a salary range from $29,000 to $45,000 per year.
14. A Dental Assistant working in Raleigh’s city in the state of North Carolina earns an average salary of $36,000 per year with a salary range from $29,000 to $43,000 per year.
15. A Dental Assistant working in Lincoln’s city in the state of California earns an average salary of $36,000 per year with a salary range from $29,000 to $43,000 per year.
16. A Dental Assistant working in the city of Lawrence in Indiana earns an average salary of $35,000 per year with a salary range from $29,000 to $42,000 per year.
17. A Dental Assistant working in Detroit in the state of Michigan earns an average salary of $35,000 per year with a salary range from $28,000 to $42,000 per year.
18. A Dental Assistant working in Charleston in the state of South Carolina earns an average salary of $35,000 per year with a salary range from $28,000 to $42,000 per year.
19. A Dental Assistant working in Chicago in the state of Illinois earns an average salary of $34,000 per year with a salary range from $28,000 to $41,000 per year.
20. A Dental Assistant working in Tucson’s city in the state of Arizona earns an average salary of $34,000 per year with a salary range from $28,000 to $41,000 per year.

The standard average salary of a Dental Assistant in the United States can range anywhere from $28,000 to $51,000.

Top Companies Hiring A Dental Assistant In The United States Of America:

Companies hire Dental assistants depending on their field experience and their level of expertise in this field. Below are listed some of the top companies hiring Dental Assistants:

1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $102,000 per year with a salary range from $86,000 to $120,000 per year.
2. Christiana Care Health Services, Inc. offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $90,000 per year with a salary range from $75,000 to $108,000 per year.
3. PARK ADVENTIST MED CENT offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $88,000 per year with a salary range from $64,000 to $121,000 per year.
4. Navarro Research & Engineering offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $81,000 per year with a salary range from $68,000 to $94,000 per year.
5. St. Luke’s University Hospital Bethlehem offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $71,000 per year with a salary range from $49,000 to $101,000 per year.
6. University Physicians Inc. offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $70,000 per year with a salary range from $49,000 to $100,000 per year.
7. Penn State Children’s Hospital (Hershey Campus) offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $60,000 per year with a salary range from $45,000 to $78,000 per year.
8. St. Mary’s Health System Inc. offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $59,000 per year with a salary range from $38,000 to $89,000 per year.
9. Christ Hospital offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $52,000 per year with a salary range from $39,000 to $68,000 per year.
10. Bucher & Christian Consulting offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $47,000 per year with a salary range from $37,000 to $58,000 per year.
11. Piedmont Health offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $44,000 per year with a salary range from $31,000 to $62,000 per year.
12. JPS Health Network offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $29,000 to $59,000 per year.
13. Cleveland Clinic offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $40,000 to $33,000 per year.
14. Newark-Wayne Community Hospital offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $30,000 to $56,000 per year.
15. UnityPoint Health offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $42,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $52,000 per year.
16. Walmart offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $41,000 per year with a salary range from $39,000 to $42,000 per year.
17. Meridian Health Inc. offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $33,000 to $47,000 per year.
18. St. Peter’s Health Partners offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $32,000 to $49,000 per year.
19. Massachusetts General Hospital offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $40,000 per year with a salary range from $39,000 to $40,000 per year.
20. Broadlawns Medical Center offers it’s Dental Assistant an average salary of $39,000 per year with a salary range from $31,000 to $48,000 per year.

The standard average salary that a company offers for a Dental Assistant in the United States can range anywhere from $29,000 to $121,000.

Experience Required By A Dental Assistant In The United States Of America:

Every company requires a certain level of experience from a Dental Assistant. The more experience you have under your belt, the higher are your chances are of securing a job at a top-reputed company. The benefit of this is that you will receive great pay.

Here are some of the careers you can gain experience in prior to applying for the post of Dental Assistant:

1. A career as a Cashier gives you a 15.4 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
2. A career as a Sales Associate gives you a 9.4 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
3. A Dental Assistant or Receptionist career gives you an 8.2 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
4. A Customer Service Representative career gives you a 6.9 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
5. A Dental Assistant Extern’s career gives you a 5.1 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
6. A Certified Nursing Assistant career gives you a 4.0 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
7. A career as an Administrative Assistant gives you a 4.0 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
8. A career as a Lead Dental Assistant gives you a 2.7 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
9. A career as an Orthodontic Assistant gives you a 2.4 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.
10. A career as a Medical Assistant gives you a 2.1 percent chance of getting a Dental Assistant job.

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