Dental Assisting Careers

Dental Assisting Career Outlook

Dentists are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures. In addition, numerous job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons.

Dental Assisting Career Paths

Dental assistants work closely with, and under the supervision of, dentists. For many, this entry-level occupation provides basic training and experience and serves as a steppingstone to more highly-skilled and higher paying jobs.

Some dental assistants become:

• Chairside dental assistant
• Dental front office staff
• Dental office receptionist
• Office managers
• Dental assisting instructors
• Dental product sales representatives
• Insurance claims processors for dental insurance companies
• Others go back to school to become dental hygienists

Dental Assisting Work Environment

Dental assistants work in a well-lit, clean environment. Their work area usually is near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed.

About half of all dental assistants have a 35- to 40-hour workweek. Most of the rest work part-time or have variable schedules. Depending on the hours of the dental office where they work, assistants may have to work on Saturdays or evenings. Some dental assistants hold multiple jobs by working at dental offices that are open on different days or scheduling their work at a second office around the hours they work at their primary office.