Healthcare support
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.
Median pay
$48,070
Growth to 2035
+7%
faster than average
Openings a year
53,000
Time to qualify*
10 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Dental assistant
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- Radiography certificate in many states · DANB CDA (optional, raises pay)
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Dental assistant: 1% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Dental assistants held 388,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 417,400 by 2035 (+7%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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