Careers · Explore one path
Dental Assistants
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.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, practical and helping work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.8 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.7 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 63%
- High school or less 29%
- A two-year degree 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Accounting software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 65,200
- Job openings each year
- 9,190
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 14.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 65,200 | 9,190 | 14.6% |
| Texas | 39,410 | 5,600 | 20.0% |
| New York | 28,090 | 520 | 22.6% |
| Florida | 26,840 | 3,790 | 15.9% |
| North Carolina | 13,970 | 1,970 | 13.9% |
| Illinois | 13,790 | 1,920 | 6.9% |
| Washington | 12,310 | 1,880 | 12.7% |
| Michigan | 12,070 | 1,680 | 6.8% |
| Ohio | 11,830 | 1,630 | 4.1% |
| Arizona | 11,570 | 1,660 | 25.6% |
| Georgia | 11,460 | 1,600 | 10.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 11,070 | 1,530 | 3.3% |
| New Jersey | 10,670 | 1,500 | 11.4% |
| Virginia | 9,620 | 1,360 | 18.0% |
| Colorado | 8,070 | 1,130 | 12.6% |
| Tennessee | 7,520 | 1,070 | 19.9% |
| Indiana | 7,440 | 1,030 | 6.7% |
| Utah | 7,360 | 1,050 | 24.1% |
| Wisconsin | 7,170 | 1,000 | 7.0% |
| Missouri | 6,700 | 920 | 3.6% |
| Oregon | 6,330 | 890 | 12.0% |
| Minnesota | 6,320 | 880 | 6.2% |
| Maryland | 6,210 | 870 | 8.6% |
| South Carolina | 5,910 | 840 | 20.4% |
| Louisiana | 5,280 | 730 | 3.9% |
| Oklahoma | 4,970 | 690 | 4.0% |
| Connecticut | 4,380 | 630 | 24.8% |
| Alabama | 4,340 | 610 | 12.7% |
| Nevada | 4,070 | 570 | 6.8% |
| Iowa | 3,890 | 550 | 15.4% |
| Kentucky | 3,650 | 510 | 6.7% |
| Arkansas | 3,620 | 510 | 20.3% |
| Idaho | 3,540 | 500 | 20.8% |
| Kansas | 3,440 | 480 | 6.2% |
| Massachusetts | 3,290 | 460 | 7.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 3,090 | 440 | 15.3% |
| New Mexico | 2,850 | 410 | 29.0% |
| Mississippi | 2,680 | 370 | 3.1% |
| Nebraska | 2,550 | 360 | 9.9% |
| Montana | 1,750 | 250 | 15.9% |
| West Virginia | 1,520 | 210 | — |
| New Hampshire | 1,480 | 210 | 8.0% |
| Maine | 1,270 | 170 | — |
| Alaska | 1,240 | 170 | 10.7% |
| South Dakota | 1,170 | 160 | 12.5% |
| Delaware | 990 | 140 | 10.0% |
| North Dakota | 840 | 120 | 9.1% |
| Rhode Island | 840 | 120 | 2.4% |
| District of Columbia | 630 | 90 | 6.8% |
| Wyoming | 630 | 90 | 8.6% |
| Vermont | 620 | 80 | — |
| Guam | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Virgin Islands | 50 | 10 | −16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 64
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
MCPHS University
- Degrees each year
- 62
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $38,000
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Degrees each year
- 61
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Wichita State University
- Degrees each year
- 56
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Texas Woman's University
- Degrees each year
- 51
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Old Dominion University
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Eastern Washington University
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Compare every college offering dental support services and allied professions