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Become An Orthodontic Assistant

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Working As An Orthodontic Assistant

  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Getting Information
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

  • Deal with People

  • Unpleasant/Hazardous Environment

  • Repetitive

  • $35,980

    Average Salary

What Does An Orthodontic Assistant Do

An Orthodontic Assistant works under the supervision of an orthodontist. They prepare the appointment rooms prior to patients’ visits, take the patients’ oral health history, assess patients through examining them, and determine their needs for orthodontic care.

How To Become An Orthodontic Assistant

There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements.

Education

Some states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. Most programs are offered by community colleges, although they also may be offered by vocational or technical schools. Most programs take about 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Programs that last 2 years are less common and lead to an associate’s degree. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), part of the American Dental Association, accredited nearly 300 dental assisting training programs in 2015.

Accredited programs include classroom and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, gums, jaws, and other areas that dentists work on and the instruments that dentists use. These programs also include supervised practical experience.

High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, and anatomy.

Training

Dental assistants who do not have formal education in dental assisting may learn their duties through on-the-job training. A dental assistant or dentist in the office teaches the new assistant dental terminology, the names of the instruments, how to complete daily tasks, how to interact with patients, and other activities necessary to help keep the dental office running smoothly.

Important Qualities

Detail oriented. Dental assistants must follow specific rules and protocols, such as infection control procedures, when helping dentists treat patients. Assistants also must be aware of what tasks they are allowed to complete in the state where they work.

Dexterity. Dental assistants must be good at working with their hands. They generally work in tight quarters on a small part of the body, using very precise tools and instruments.

Interpersonal skills. Dental assistants must work closely with dentists and patients. Sometimes, patients are in extreme pain and/or mental stress, so the assistant should be sensitive to their emotions.

Listening skills. Dental assistants should be able to listen to patients and other healthcare workers. They need to follow directions from a dentist or dental hygienist, so they can help treat patients and do tasks, such as taking an x ray.

Organizational skills. Dental assistants should have excellent organizational skills. They should have the correct tools in place for a dentist or dental hygienist to use when treating a patient.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Some states require dental assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. In other states, there are no formal requirements to become an entry-level dental assistant.

States that allow assistants to perform expanded duties, such as coronal polishing, require that they be licensed, registered, or hold certifications from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). To earn certification from DANB, applicants must pass an exam. The educational requirements for DANB certification are that dental assistants must either have graduated from an accredited program or have a high school diploma and complete the required amount of work experience. Applicants also must have current certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

In addition, many states require assistants to meet specific education or training requirements in order to work with radiography (x ray) equipment. Requirements vary by state. Contact state boards of dentistry for specific requirements.

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Orthodontic Assistant jobs

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Orthodontic Assistant Demographics

Gender

  • Female

    90.3%

  • Male

    8.5%

  • Unknown

    1.2%

Ethnicity

  • White

    76.7%

  • Hispanic or Latino

    15.3%

  • Asian

    6.1%

  • Unknown

    1.4%

  • Black or African American

    0.4%
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Languages Spoken

  • Spanish

    70.5%

  • French

    5.1%

  • Polish

    5.1%

  • German

    2.6%

  • Albanian

    2.6%

  • Italian

    2.6%

  • Portuguese

    1.3%

  • Vietnamese

    1.3%

  • Chinese

    1.3%

  • Turkish

    1.3%

  • Russian

    1.3%

  • Hebrew

    1.3%

  • Dakota

    1.3%

  • Arabic

    1.3%

  • Tamil

    1.3%
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Real Orthodontic Assistant Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Orthodontic Assistant Man & CFN Ortho, PLLC Brownsville, TX Nov 28, 2011 $70,000
Orthodontic Assistant Navarro Orthodontix, PC Dallas, TX Nov 28, 2011 $52,000
Orthodontic Assistant and Sure Smile Coordinator Jacobson and Tsou Orthodontics, Ltd. Vernon Hills, IL Nov 18, 2015 $38,397
Orthodontic Assistant Ronald D. Mizrahi DDS PC New York, NY Sep 22, 2014 $36,794
Orthodontic Assistant Holliday Orthodontics, LLC Aiea, HI May 02, 2011 $30,262
Orthodontic Assistant Holliday Orthodontics, LLC Aiea, HI May 02, 2011 $27,131 -
$40,697
Orthodontic Assistant Holliday Orthodontics, LLC Aiea, HI May 17, 2011 $27,131

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Top Skills for An Orthodontic Assistant

ProperOralHygieneArchWiresInvisalignCephalometricX-RaysLabDigitalPanoramicEssixRetainersOrthodonticAppliancesOrthodonticProceduresSchedulingAppointmentsPatientRecordsPatientCareOshaStudyModelsFrontDeskTreatmentPlansChairSideToothInfectionControlFrontOffice

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Top Orthodontic Assistant Skills

  1. Proper Oral Hygiene
  2. Arch Wires
  3. Invisalign
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Educated patients about proper oral hygiene and prevention of dental diseases.
  • Performed routine maintenance of braces including changing arch wires, elastic ligatures, placing of open and closed coils, etc.
  • Placed traditional and invisalign braces.
  • Performed orthodontic procedures including band changing and cephalometric X-rays.
  • Managed the lab where retainers, partials, and any dental materials were made or ordered from.

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