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Becoming a dental assistant is relatively simple . There aren’t nearly as many years of schooling to go through, and a person will still get all of the benefits of helping patients get their teeth back to normal.
The states and districts that pay Dental Assistants the highest mean salary are Minnesota ($52,220), Alaska ($49,350), New Hampshire ($49,280), Massachusetts ($48,770), and North Dakota ($47,140).
Do Dental Assistants Have to Be Certified? State regulations vary on certification. Some states require dental assistants to be certified, while other states do not have any formal educational requirements. However, earning a dental assistant certification can help your career in more ways than one.
DANB’s most recent salary survey confirms that DANB CDAs earn about $2 more per hour than non-certified dental assistants . DANB-certified assistants earn an average of $18.60 per hour compared to $16.59 for non-DANB certified assistants . There is also something to be said for job longevity.
Dental assistants
Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | Median |
---|---|---|
Starting | $20.00 | $25.00 |
Overall | $24.00 | $29.35 |
Top | $27.00 | $33.00 |
Pros of Dental Assisting Going into dental assisting has many benefits. If you want a career with strong job prospects, a pleasant work environment, relatively short training, and career advancement opportunities, dental assisting may be the right choice for you.
The national average annual wage of a dental assistant is $39,770, according to the BLS, which is markedly less than the national average wage for all occupations, $51,960.
Level II dental assistants obtain additional training in intra-oral duties, which means they are able to do everything a Level I dental assistant can do along with; dental radiography, mechanical polishing of the coronal portion of the teeth, placement and removal of rubber dams, taking of preliminary impressions of
Job Outlook Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. The aging population and ongoing research linking oral health and general health will lead to continued increases in the demand for preventive dental services.
You can take the RDA test right after graduating from approved DA program. Moreover, is the RDA written exam hard ? The written exam was easy. They give you plenty of time.
Dental assistant certifications can cost as little as $3,000 while degrees can run as high as $13,000. Depending on your state, you may also be required to pass extra Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exams, which is another cost to factor in if it’s not included with your school fees.
A dental assisting program can take anywhere from nine months to two years to complete, depending on whether it’s a certificate, diploma or degree program.
Dental Assistant Job Duties Pros and Cons Stress : A busy day filled with a variety of tasks can be challenging, fun work for many dental assistants . [11] U.S. News and World ranked the stress level for dental assisting jobs as average.
While it is easier for medical aides to find work without formal training, dental aides are generally required to hold certification. However, it’s good to note, in both professions certification helps candidates find employment more easily.
Work Hours Many work a typical work day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sometimes, they may have to work evenings to assist during dental procedures or surgeries or to make sure the office is prepared and clean for the next business day . Depending on the dental practice or office you work in, you may have to work weekends.