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Surgical assistant vs certified dental assistant

The differences between surgical assistants and certified dental assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a surgical assistant has an average salary of $52,170, which is higher than the $38,418 average annual salary of a certified dental assistant.

The top three skills for a surgical assistant include patients, surgical procedures and patient care. The most important skills for a certified dental assistant are patients, dental procedures, and CPR.

Surgical assistant vs certified dental assistant overview

Surgical AssistantCertified Dental Assistant
Yearly salary$52,170$38,418
Hourly rate$25.08$18.47
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs28,138102,316
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 31%
Average age4338
Years of experience-2

Surgical assistant vs certified dental assistant salary

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

Surgical AssistantCertified Dental Assistant
Average salary$52,170$38,418
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $76,000Between $28,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companyBaptist Health Care-
Best paying industryUtilities-

Differences between surgical assistant and certified dental assistant education

There are a few differences between a surgical assistant and a certified dental assistant in terms of educational background:

Surgical AssistantCertified Dental Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 31%
Most common majorNursingDental Assisting
Most common college--

Surgical assistant vs certified dental assistant demographics

Here are the differences between surgical assistants' and certified dental assistants' demographics:

Surgical AssistantCertified Dental Assistant
Average age4338
Gender ratioMale, 20.7% Female, 79.3%Male, 6.7% Female, 93.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage10%4%

Differences between surgical assistant and certified dental assistant duties and responsibilities

Surgical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records and document examination notes, prescriptions, and procedure details in EMR.
  • Manage surgical scheduling, cataract evaluations, ultrasounds, keratometry, IOL selection, and preoperative exam for surgery.
  • Prepare patients for examination by taking their vitals, and performing EKG when need.
  • Assist with all dental procedures, order all supplies, maintain equipment and OSHA handbook.
  • Assist surgeons in surgical procedures making incisions, manipulating tissues and organs, cauterizing, suturing and dressing wounds.
  • Interview patients, review patient medical history, gather and educate patients on their medications.
  • Show more

Certified dental assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage surgery center infection control plan to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards.
  • Provide excellent customer service to dental patients and represent the organization at trade shows and presentations.
  • Reconcile payments, verify insurance benefits, schedule appointments and present patients with necessary treatment plans.
  • Assist in oral surgery under local and twilight anesthesia in a private practice setting.Primary IV starter and administer anesthetics on command.
  • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operate resuscitation equipment.

Surgical assistant vs certified dental assistant skills

Common surgical assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Surgical Procedures, 12%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Infection Control, 3%
Common certified dental assistant skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Dental Procedures, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Chair Side, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Treatment Rooms, 3%

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