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The differences between orthodontic assistants and registered 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 a registered dental assistant. Additionally, an orthodontic assistant has an average salary of $49,768, which is higher than the $38,145 average annual salary of a registered dental assistant.
The top three skills for an orthodontic assistant include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for a registered dental assistant are patients, CPR, and RDA.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $49,768 | $38,145 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $18.34 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 55,933 | 76,460 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| 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.
A registered dental assistant is responsible for assisting dentists in conducting dental procedures, performing basic dental operations, as well as administrative duties. Registered dental assistants advise the patients on their medications and practices to avoid dental complications, including regular dental checkups and cleaning. They also keep dental records of a patient for reference, sterilize dental tools and equipment, manage the regular maintenance of machines, and check the adequacy of dental supplies. A registered dental assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on updating information on the database, processing payments, and scheduling appointments.
Orthodontic assistants and registered dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Average salary | $49,768 | $38,145 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $96,000 | Between $28,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Arlington, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Government |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic assistant and a registered dental assistant in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between orthodontic assistants' and registered dental assistants' demographics:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% | Male, 9.0% Female, 91.0% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 31.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 47.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |