What Do Dental Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for dental assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what dental assistants do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Dental Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about dental assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
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.
Popular Job Titles For Dental Assistants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Dental Assistants
- Registered Dental Assistants
- Orthodontic Assistants
- Orthodontic Dental Assistants
- Pediatric Dental Assistants
- Expanded Function Dental Assistants
- Dental Treatment Coordinators
- Expanded Duties Dental Assistants
- Hygiene Assistants
- Dental Office Assistants - Business Assistant
- Oral Surgery Assistants
- Dental Assistants/Receptionist
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for dental assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Dental Assistants
Dental Assistants Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Dentists: 90.6%
- Offices of Physicians: 2.2%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 1.8%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 1%
- Employment Services: 1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.7%
- Other: 2.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of dental assistants can be found working in the Offices of Dentists sector. In 2023, about 90.6% of all jobs for dental assistants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Physicians (2.2%), Outpatient Care Centers (1.8%), Federal Government, Civilian (1%), Employment Services (1%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.7%).
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Certificates & Microcredentials for Dental Assistants
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What Do Dental Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what dental assistants do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work dental assistants do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that dental assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for dental assistants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Dental Assistants
Based on 130,513 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Dental Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilization | 32,865 | 25% |
| Dentistry | 31,309 | 24% |
| Dental Procedures | 23,949 | 18% |
| Infection Control | 22,901 | 18% |
| Oral Hygiene | 20,312 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Dental Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,839 | 27% |
| Customer Service | 21,436 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 17,953 | 14% |
| Scheduling | 12,100 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 11,544 | 9% |
Based on 130,513 job postings related to dental assistants, sterilization was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for dentistry, dental procedures, infection control, oral hygiene and patient education and counseling were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for dental assistants, followed by customer service, detail oriented, scheduling, multitasking and organizational skills.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilization | 32,865 | 25% |
| Dentistry | 31,309 | 24% |
| Dental Procedures | 23,949 | 18% |
| Infection Control | 22,901 | 18% |
| Oral Hygiene | 20,312 | 16% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 17,400 | 13% |
| Patient Preparation | 16,655 | 13% |
| Radiography | 14,806 | 11% |
| Oral Health | 14,776 | 11% |
| Medical Records | 14,569 | 11% |
| Dental Radiography | 14,439 | 11% |
| Dentrix | 14,431 | 11% |
| Orthodontics | 14,405 | 11% |
| Disinfecting | 12,774 | 10% |
| Treatment Planning | 12,563 | 10% |
| Dental Surgery | 11,554 | 9% |
| Dental Instruments | 11,042 | 8% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 9,605 | 7% |
| Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery | 8,658 | 7% |
| Coronal Polishing | 8,610 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,839 | 27% |
| Customer Service | 21,436 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 17,953 | 14% |
| Scheduling | 12,100 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 11,544 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 11,044 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 8,520 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,962 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 7,847 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 7,692 | 6% |
| Administrative Functions | 7,129 | 5% |
| Self-Motivation | 7,037 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 6,860 | 5% |
| Positivity | 6,504 | 5% |
| Willingness To Learn | 5,943 | 5% |
| Teamwork | 5,673 | 4% |
| Management | 5,058 | 4% |
| Professionalism | 5,047 | 4% |
| Time Management | 4,828 | 4% |
| Operations | 4,755 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Dental Assistants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | 304,331 | 60.8% |
| Registered Dental Assistants | 59,756 | 11.9% |
| Orthodontic Assistants | 25,796 | 5.2% |
| Orthodontic Dental Assistants | 12,049 | 2.4% |
| Pediatric Dental Assistants | 10,357 | 2.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was dental assistants, with 70,684 unique job postings. Registered dental assistants were second, with 5,382 postings, followed by orthodontic assistants, orthodontic dental assistants and pediatric dental assistants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to dental assistants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | 304,331 | 60.8% |
| Registered Dental Assistants | 59,756 | 11.9% |
| Orthodontic Assistants | 25,796 | 5.2% |
| Orthodontic Dental Assistants | 12,049 | 2.4% |
| Pediatric Dental Assistants | 10,357 | 2.1% |
| Expanded Function Dental Assistants | 15,261 | 3% |
| Dental Treatment Coordinators | 7,818 | 1.6% |
| Expanded Duties Dental Assistants | 13,003 | 2.6% |
| Hygiene Assistants | 4,308 | 0.9% |
| Dental Office Assistants - Business Assistant | 4,451 | 0.9% |
| Oral Surgery Assistants | 5,927 | 1.2% |
| Dental Assistants/Receptionist | 3,641 | 0.7% |
| Lead Dental Assistants | 5,862 | 1.2% |
| Licensed Dental Assistants | 5,207 | 1% |
| Dental Hygiene Assistants | 3,112 | 0.6% |
| Endodontic Dental Assistants | 3,234 | 0.6% |
| Treatment Coordinators | 2,231 | 0.4% |
| Chairside Dental Assistants | 5,578 | 1.1% |
| EFDA Certified Dental Assistants | 6,398 | 1.3% |
| Experience Coordinators | 2,258 | 0.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for dental assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for dental assistants.
How much do dental assistants make?
Dental Assistants: How do you become one?
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