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The differences between orthodontic assistants and dental hygienists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dental hygienist has an average salary of $88,432, which is higher than the $49,768 average annual salary of an orthodontic assistant.
The top three skills for an orthodontic assistant include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for a dental hygienist are patients, patient care, and CPR.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Hygienist | |
| Yearly salary | $49,768 | $88,432 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $42.52 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 55,933 | 24,234 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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.
Dental hygienists are professionals who provide preventative oral care under a dentist's supervision. They are concerned mostly in treating minor oral health conditions. They clean teeth, examine any signs of damage and oral diseases and provide dental recommendations and after-care treatment. They educate patients with proper oral hygiene and counseling about how good nutrition impacts oral health. They also teach them ways to improve and maintain good oral health.
Orthodontic assistants and dental hygienists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Hygienist | |
| Average salary | $49,768 | $88,432 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $96,000 | Between $56,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | Bonita |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic assistant and a dental hygienist in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Hygienist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between orthodontic assistants' and dental hygienists' demographics:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Hygienist | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% | Male, 6.9% Female, 93.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |