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Surgical dental assistant vs certified registered dental assistant

The differences between surgical dental assistants and certified 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 a surgical dental assistant and a certified registered dental assistant. Additionally, a surgical dental assistant has an average salary of $40,006, which is higher than the $38,723 average annual salary of a certified registered dental assistant.

The top three skills for a surgical dental assistant include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a certified registered dental assistant are patients, OSHA, and front desk.

Surgical dental assistant vs certified registered dental assistant overview

Surgical Dental AssistantCertified Registered Dental Assistant
Yearly salary$40,006$38,723
Hourly rate$19.23$18.62
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs52,47856,676
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 52%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Surgical dental assistant vs certified registered dental assistant salary

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

Surgical Dental AssistantCertified Registered Dental Assistant
Average salary$40,006$38,723
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $55,000Between $28,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between surgical dental assistant and certified registered dental assistant education

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

Surgical Dental AssistantCertified Registered Dental Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 52%
Most common majorDental AssistingDental Assisting
Most common college--

Surgical dental assistant vs certified registered dental assistant demographics

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

Surgical Dental AssistantCertified Registered Dental Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 8.7% Female, 91.3%Male, 5.3% Female, 94.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 7.4% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between surgical dental assistant and certified registered dental assistant duties and responsibilities

Surgical dental assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records and document examination notes, prescriptions, and procedure details in EMR.
  • Train as an anesthesia technician and certify in CPR.
  • Assist dentist in prophylactic procedures: provide necessary tools, sterilize equipment, comfort patients.
  • Bill major insurance providers using ADA codes and process incoming payments from insure and non-insure patients and insurance providers.
  • Assist in oral surgery under local and twilight anesthesia in a private practice setting.Primary IV starter and administer anesthetics on command.
  • Place catheters and IVs for procedures.
  • Show more

Certified registered dental assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage surgery center infection control plan to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards.
  • Aid with full mouth restorations, implant crowns and dentures.
  • Prepare patients, sterilize and disinfect instruments.
  • 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 dental assistant vs certified registered dental assistant skills

Common surgical dental assistant skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • IV, 9%
  • Infection Control Procedures, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
Common certified registered dental assistant skills
  • Patients, 40%
  • OSHA, 8%
  • Front Desk, 6%
  • Dental Procedures, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Infection Control, 4%

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