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The differences between orthodontic assistants and dental nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an orthodontic assistant and a dental nurse. Additionally, a dental nurse has an average salary of $81,113, 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 nurse are patients, oral surgery, and surgical procedures.
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.
A Dental Nurse assists dentists in carrying out different kinds of oral-care procedures. They look after patient records and make notes when the dentist is examining a patient.
Orthodontic assistants and dental nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Nurse | |
| Average salary | $49,768 | $81,113 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $96,000 | Between $51,000 And $127,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic assistant and a dental nurse in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between orthodontic assistants' and dental nurses' demographics:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Dental Nurse | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% | Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4% |
| 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, 7.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 26.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |