Dental Assistant

Description of job: Perform 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.

Dental Assistants may also perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

Also known as: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), oral surgery assistant, orthodontic assistant.

Sources: Minnesota CAREERwise & CareerOneStop

Typical Job ActivitiesSkills & KnowledgeAve Wage/Job OutlookEducation & Training

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
Fit patients for assistive devices.
Interview patients to gather medical information.
Explain technical medical information to patients.
Maintain medical records.
Record vital statistics or other health information.
Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Clean medical equipment.

Typical Working Conditions

Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
Close physical proximity with other people.
Frequent contact with others.
Exposure to disease or infections.
Working with a group or team.
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
The importance of being accurate or exact.
Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
Frequent decision-making.
Responsibility for others’ health and safety.

Tools & Technology used by Dental Assistants

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Dental Assistants

Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Teaching—Teaching others how to do something.
Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Dental Assistants

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.
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.
English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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.
Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
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.
Production and Processing—Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Wages Per Hour For Dental Assistants (MN)

Low

$24.17

Median

$25.52

High

$30.85

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing very high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 7,526 new Dental Assistants to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least some college, and many professionals earn an Associates degree. This job requires a license.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.

Spotlight on Central Lakes College