Dental Assistant

To be a successful Dental Assistant you should…

• be reliable
• work well with others
• have good manual dexterity
• have good eye/hand coordination
• have the ability to communicate clearly
• have good listening skills
• have the ability to calm nervous patients
• have good health, personal neatness and cleanliness

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What will my job be like?

Dental assistants perform many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. In addition to assisting the dentist during a variety of procedures, dental assistants may take and develop dental radiographs (x-rays), sterilize instruments and equipment, and take impressions of patients’ teeth.

Where could I work?

Dental assistants may work in private dental offices, hospitals, or community health agencies. Most dental assistants have a 32- to 40-hour work week, which may include work on Saturdays or evenings.

Other workplace settings:

• Clinics
• Dental Product Sales Representatives
• Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools
• Military Hospitals
• Public Schools
• State and Local Public Health Departments

What is the average annual salary?

$41,200

What is the future of this career?

According to the BLS, employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 44,000 openings for dental assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

Training programs are offered by community colleges, vocational schools, or technical institutes.

One-year program enrollees receive a certificate or diploma upon completion, while those in 2-year programs receive an associate degree. Dental assistants may also acquire necessary skills through on-the-job training.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• American Institute, West Hartford
• Dental Temp Careers, LLC, Stratford
• Manchester Community College, Manchester
• Middlesex Community College, Middletown
• Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
• Porter and Chester Institute, Bridgeport/Hamden/New London/Rocky Hill/Waterbury
• Tunxis Community College, Farmington
• Valley Medical Institute, Bridgeport

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is required for dental assistants in the state of Connecticut only in regard to taking dental x-rays. Prerequisite: Dental assistants must successfully complete the radiology section of the Dental Assisting National Board examination in order to take dental x-rays in Connecticut; but other than that, neither certification nor licensure is required in Connecticut.

Where can I get more information?