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Surgical dental assistant vs surgical assistant

The differences between surgical dental assistants and surgical 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 $40,006 average annual salary of a surgical dental assistant.

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

Surgical dental assistant vs surgical assistant overview

Surgical Dental AssistantSurgical Assistant
Yearly salary$40,006$52,170
Hourly rate$19.23$25.08
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs52,47828,138
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age3843
Years of experience2-

Surgical dental assistant vs surgical assistant salary

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

Surgical Dental AssistantSurgical Assistant
Average salary$40,006$52,170
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $55,000Between $35,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Baptist Health Care
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between surgical dental assistant and surgical assistant education

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

Surgical Dental AssistantSurgical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common majorDental AssistingNursing
Most common college--

Surgical dental assistant vs surgical assistant demographics

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

Surgical Dental AssistantSurgical Assistant
Average age3843
Gender ratioMale, 8.7% Female, 91.3%Male, 20.7% Female, 79.3%
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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage4%10%

Differences between surgical dental assistant and surgical 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.
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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.
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Surgical dental assistant vs surgical assistant skills

Common surgical dental assistant skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • IV, 9%
  • Infection Control Procedures, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
Common surgical assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Surgical Procedures, 12%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Infection Control, 3%

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