What Do Orthodontic Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for orthodontic assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what orthodontic 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.
Orthodontic Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about orthodontic assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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 orthodontic assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Orthodontic Assistants
Orthodontic 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 orthodontic assistants can be found working in the Offices of Dentists sector. In 2023, about 90.6% of all jobs for orthodontic 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%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Certificates & Microcredentials for Orthodontic Assistants
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do Orthodontic Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what orthodontic 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 orthodontic 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 orthodontic assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for orthodontic assistants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Orthodontic Assistants
Based on 130,513 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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 orthodontic 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 orthodontic 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 Orthodontic 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 orthodontic 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 orthodontic assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for orthodontic assistants.
How much do orthodontic assistants make?
Orthodontic Assistants: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.