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Average Salary & Job Outlook
Dental Assistant median wages (2009) $ 35,000 yearly
Dental Hygienists median wages (2009) $ 41,000 yearly
U.S. Minimum wage (2005)
$10,712 Annually
The median earnings of dental assistants were $35,000 in 2009. On the other hand people wanting to become dental hygienists can earn over $41,000 a year.
In response to a rising demand for dental care and the utilization
of hygienists, employment rates of both dental assistants and
dental hygienist careers are recognized as some of the fastest
growing careers today. On average dental assistant and dental
hygienist jobs are expected to increase an average of 42% over
the next decade.
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What can a Dental Assistant degree prepare you for?
Dental assistants offer help to dentists by providing
patient care as well as engaging in office and laboratory
duties. They often work chair side as dentists examine
and treat patients. Dental assistants prepare materials
for impressions and restorations. They take and process
dental x rays.
Other duties dental assistants perform include:
- Making patients comfortable throughout their procedure
- Preparing patients for treatment
- Obtaining and checking dental records
- Providing instruments and materials to dentists
- Sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and equipment
Dental assistants are essential to dentist’s
offices because they are the dentist’s second
pair of hands and provide important care that dentists
don’t always have time to offer to their patients.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
Examining patient’s teeth and gums and recording
the presence of diseases or abnormalities are the
chief duties of a dental hygienist. Although dental
hygienists don’t diagnose diseases, they prepare
clinical diagnostic tests for the dentist.
Other duties dental hygienists hold are:
- Removing calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth
- Teaching patients how to practice good oral hygiene
- Provide preventive dental care.
- Perform root planting as a periodontal therapy
- Take and develop dental x-rays
- Making temporary fillings
Dental hygienists usually travel to five different
dental offices throughout the week. They stay at each
office one day out of the week. They are an important
part of the dentist’s office as they are able
to work with and diagnose patients when dentists are
involved with other patients in the office.
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