Working Chair-Side Dental Assistant Salary

Dental assistant wages can vary, such factors as experience and the business office location. But before we dig deep into all the different details concerning the wages for dental assistants, lets clarify what precisely a dental assistant does.

lab duties, clerical work and patient care are just some of the responsibilities a dental assistant performs during a regular working day. Simply put, a dental assistant is a member of the dental care team that assists dentists during dental exams and treatments. A dental assistant aids patients to become relaxed and comfortable while waiting for their dental work to begin.

Working chair-side dental assistant features more tasks like handling instruments and materials to the dentist and drying the patient's mouth with suction equipment during treatments. Blending filling compounds and taking impressions of patient's teeth can also be carried out by qualified dental assistants.

Future job opportunities will increase, driven by the growth of an elderly population more partial to gum disease and related dental health conditions.
More and more people are now keeping their natural teeth longer, this is one of the reason for the increased demand for dental services.

Statistics from the occupational employment survey of employers, 2004, shows an growth for dental assistant Earnings from $12.08 to $16.76, which makes an average hourly wage of $14.77. As mentioned previously, there are many elements including the individuals experience, skills, type of employer, which determine the Wages of a dental assistant.

One thing is for sure though - fully-approved dental assistants and qualified dental assistants in Extended Functions may expect to receive higher Earnings. Fully licensed dental assistants and registered dental assistants in a practice where they would be required to carry out extra responsibilities can expect a higher wage.