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The differences between orthodontic assistants and expanded duty dental assistants 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 an expanded duty dental assistant. Additionally, an orthodontic assistant has an average salary of $49,768, which is higher than the $39,095 average annual salary of an expanded duty dental assistant.
The top three skills for an orthodontic assistant include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for an expanded duty dental assistant are patients, OSHA, and patient care.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Expanded Duty Dental Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $49,768 | $39,095 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $18.80 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 55,933 | 23,594 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 25% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
An Expanded Duty Dental Assistant helps a dentist perform a wide range of administrative duties. Their duties include making impressions of a patients' teeth, performing preliminary oral examinations, and preparing filling materials.
Orthodontic assistants and expanded duty dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Expanded Duty Dental Assistant | |
| Average salary | $49,768 | $39,095 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $96,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| 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 an expanded duty dental assistant in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Expanded Duty Dental Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 25% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between orthodontic assistants' and expanded duty dental assistants' demographics:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Expanded Duty Dental Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| 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, 8.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 7.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |