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Dental assistant/receptionist vs oral surgery assistant

The differences between dental assistant/receptionists 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/receptionist and an oral surgery assistant. Additionally, an oral surgery assistant has an average salary of $44,205, which is higher than the $38,823 average annual salary of a dental assistant/receptionist.

The top three skills for a dental assistant/receptionist include patients, customer service and dental procedures. The most important skills for an oral surgery assistant are patients, infection control, and patient care.

Dental assistant/receptionist vs oral surgery assistant overview

Dental Assistant/ReceptionistOral Surgery Assistant
Yearly salary$38,823$44,205
Hourly rate$18.66$21.25
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs80,31719,858
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%Associate Degree, 28%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does a dental assistant/receptionist do?

A dental assistant/receptionist is responsible for managing dental appointments, including scheduling or canceling patients' dental sessions. Dental assistants/receptionists inform patients ahead of time if the dentist is out to reschedule another appointment. They also process payments, respond to customer's inquiries about dental services the clinic offers, updating patient information on the database, and creating a patient chart and visiting records for the dental staff's reference. A dental assistant/receptionist must have excellent communication and organization skills to assist patients efficiently and perform administrative tasks as needed.

What does an oral surgery assistant do?

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/receptionist vs oral surgery assistant salary

Dental assistant/receptionists and oral surgery assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Dental Assistant/ReceptionistOral Surgery Assistant
Average salary$38,823$44,205
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $57,000Between $25,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MN-
Highest paying stateMinnesota-
Best paying companyMount Sinai Health System-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between dental assistant/receptionist and oral surgery assistant education

There are a few differences between a dental assistant/receptionist and an oral surgery assistant in terms of educational background:

Dental Assistant/ReceptionistOral Surgery Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 25%Associate Degree, 28%
Most common majorDental AssistingDental Assisting
Most common college--

Dental assistant/receptionist vs oral surgery assistant demographics

Here are the differences between dental assistant/receptionists' and oral surgery assistants' demographics:

Dental Assistant/ReceptionistOral Surgery Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 6.7% Female, 93.3%Male, 11.1% Female, 88.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.8% Asian, 8.8% White, 52.3% 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 Percentage4%4%

Differences between dental assistant/receptionist and oral surgery assistant duties and responsibilities

Dental assistant/receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate continuing education courses, schedule in office training sessions and manage first aid, CPR and a certifications.
  • Contact pharmacist to authorize medication for patients prior to dental procedures.
  • Store records securely and handle in compliance with legal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
  • Assist in a variety of dental procedures including all types of fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns and dentures.
  • Chart, examination/treatment information, scheduled/cancel appointments using CDA.
  • Provide state-of-the-art individualize orthodontic treatment to adult and adolescent patients.
  • Show more

Oral surgery assistant example responsibilities.

  • Assist in intravenous sedation, prepare syringes with proper medication, placement of EKG leads, record and monitor during procedures.
  • Provide postoperative care with anesthesia patients monitoring vital signs until patient is conscious; establish patient comfort and review prescribe medications.
  • Maintain HIPAA compliance through patient confidentiality.
  • Train how to assist Dr, in surgery.
  • Set up and sterilization of instrumentation, making sure OSHA standards and high standards of the practice are met.
  • Anticipate surgeons' needs, pass instruments, cuts, sutures, hold retractors, obtain and process tissue samples.
  • Show more

Dental assistant/receptionist vs oral surgery assistant skills

Common dental assistant/receptionist skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Dental Procedures, 5%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 4%
  • Strong Computer, 4%
  • Dental Care, 4%
Common oral surgery assistant skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Infection Control, 16%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • Dental Care, 7%
  • Chair Side, 7%
  • Root Canals, 4%

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