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The differences between dental assistant externs and oral surgery assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dental assistant extern and an oral surgery assistant. Additionally, an oral surgery assistant has an average salary of $44,205, which is higher than the $38,679 average annual salary of a dental assistant extern.
The top three skills for a dental assistant extern include patients, dental procedures and patient care. The most important skills for an oral surgery assistant are patients, infection control, and patient care.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Oral Surgery Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,679 | $44,205 |
| Hourly rate | $18.60 | $21.25 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 24,154 | 19,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Dental assistant externs are responsible for various office and laboratory tasks in a dentist's clinic or office. They may provide patient care, but the procedures they can perform vary by state. Their duties and responsibilities may include preparing patients for the dental examination, organizing and maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, and scheduling appointments. Also, they are responsible for recording dental and medical histories of patients and providing aftercare, such as instructing patients on proper oral hygiene. Dental assistants may also perform other duties such as fluoride application and polishing.
An Oral Surgery Assistant prepares patients for surgery and provides them with needed care. They also make notes about performed procedures, progress, recommendations, and other subjects in the patient's charts.
Dental assistant externs and oral surgery assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Oral Surgery Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,679 | $44,205 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $52,000 | Between $25,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a dental assistant extern and an oral surgery assistant in terms of educational background:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Oral Surgery Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dental assistant externs' and oral surgery assistants' demographics:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Oral Surgery Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 11.1% Female, 88.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 8.4% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |