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Orthotic assistant vs dental assistant

The differences between orthotic assistants and 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 orthotic assistant and a dental assistant. Additionally, an orthotic assistant has an average salary of $45,826, which is higher than the $37,730 average annual salary of a dental assistant.

The top three skills for an orthotic assistant include cervical, orthotics and . The most important skills for a dental assistant are patients, patient care, and CPR.

Orthotic assistant vs dental assistant overview

Orthotic AssistantDental Assistant
Yearly salary$45,826$37,730
Hourly rate$22.03$18.14
Growth rate17%8%
Number of jobs9669,835
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Associate Degree, 23%
Average age4338
Years of experience22

Orthotic assistant vs dental assistant salary

Orthotic assistants and dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Orthotic AssistantDental Assistant
Average salary$45,826$37,730
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $93,000Between $28,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City-Saint Paul, MN
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Alameda Health System
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between orthotic assistant and dental assistant education

There are a few differences between an orthotic assistant and a dental assistant in terms of educational background:

Orthotic AssistantDental Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Associate Degree, 23%
Most common majorBusinessDental Assisting
Most common collegeNorthwestern University-

Orthotic assistant vs dental assistant demographics

Here are the differences between orthotic assistants' and dental assistants' demographics:

Orthotic AssistantDental Assistant
Average age4338
Gender ratioMale, 45.7% Female, 54.3%Male, 11.5% Female, 88.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%4%

Differences between orthotic assistant and dental assistant duties and responsibilities

Orthotic assistant example responsibilities.

  • Help Prosthetists/Orthotists creating prosthetics and orthotics devices.
  • Obtain insurance authorizations when necessary and bill insurance companies using emr software.
  • Develop procedures and techniques for the immediate post-operative fittings of prosthetic and orthotic limbs and devices.
  • Assist in the casting and molding of orthosis and prosthetic devices to meet the specific needs of each patient.
  • Fabricate custom inserts, AFO, and prosthetic sockets/devices.

Dental assistant example responsibilities.

  • Help dentist to manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply.
  • Assist with Endo, implants and periodontal surgeries.
  • Implement MSDS record keeping and biological monitoring system logs.
  • Assist in clinical procedures (all specialties except orthodontics).
  • Maintain highest degree of patient confidentiality as per HIPPA law.
  • Sole dental assistant for small private practice using a variety of EFDA skills
  • Show more

Orthotic assistant vs dental assistant skills

Common orthotic assistant skills
  • Cervical, 55%
  • Orthotics, 45%
Common dental assistant skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Oral Care, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Dental Procedures, 3%

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