Getting a job in the dental and oral health care industry can mean lucrative and stable career paths that offer job security and a steady stream of monthly income. A very good position that seems to become more and more in-demand in the dental industry is that of a dental assistant’s. According to a recent study, the need for people to fill up the dental assistant positions between the years 2008 to 2018 will increase to around 36%. Because a good number of the world population will want to receive better dental care, dentists will need dental assistants to facilitate their work. Working in an in-demand career will also mean good increase on a dental assistant salary.
The tasks of a dental assistant would oftentimes revolve around the dental office, inside the dental clinic and in the laboratory. Often, dental assistants work under the supervision of a dentist, and assist them during a dental procedure. These would include preparing the equipments and tools, handling the essential apparatus and instruments to the dentist, and making sure that they assist the patient and the dentist in the entire dental procedure. They are also given tasks in the dental office which include organizing appointments, paying bills, sending invoices and receiving payments. Some dental assistants who train for far more specialized types of work such as radiology and laboratory-related tasks will work on getting a patient’s dental x-ray, restorative dentistry functions, and coronal polishing. These duties require formal training and certification. Dental assistant who can perform such tasks, however, receive higher than the average dental assistant salary.
Dental Assistant Salary
In 2009, dental assistants in the United States received an average annual dental assistant salary of $34,000. Most entry-level dental assistants receive around $26,000-$30,000 a year. The highest tabulated dental assistant salary reached to more than $46,500 annually. There are a variety of factors that can affect the computed dental assistant salary. Factors such as location, formal training and education could become a good basis on how much a dental assistant could earn in a year. Those who work as dental assistants in specialty hospitals and in states where the cost of living is higher will apparently receive higher compensations than those working in dental offices and states with lesser living costs. As mentioned above, another basis of a higher dental assistant salary is the dental assistant’s ability, training and certification to work on specialized tasks in the laboratory such as coronal polishing, and radiology, among others.
Apart from the established dental assistant salary, benefits and incentives can also be awarded to dental assistants depending on their employer. In 2009, 50% of dental assistants are insured with health and medical benefits. Aside from that, 86% of dental assistants in the United States were also paid during vacation leaves along with their basic dental assistant salary.
Dental Assistant Job Outlook
Due to the large number of dental assistants that dental clinics and dentists need, the demand will evidently increase every year. Dentists are willing to pay for more experienced and well-trained dental assistants who can help make their work in the laboratory easier and faster so that they can focus on more important dental obligations. A career in a dental assistant position is far easier and more rewarding than the other competing in-demand jobs. Getting a good training and certification will surely help in securing higher than average dental assistant salary. Additional knowledge in administrative and office work might also spell additional salary and an experience in office work is often almost required for candidates who want to work as a dental assistant. Formal training and securing a license, along with the development of other essential skills might be a longer route to take, but the benefits on the dental assistant salary and incentives will surely make up for it.