Dental Assistant

Duties and Responsibilities: Dental assistant duties mostly consist of preparing the patient for the dental examination, assisting the dentist during dental procedures, and doing front-office work. Front-office job duties might include helping patients schedule appointments and working with equipment suppliers to handle deliveries.

Salary: Dental Assistants make an average of $36,660 annually in California, with the top end of the spectrum around $45,000, and the lower end around $26,800. Whether you’re at the top end of the spectrum or the lower depends on the list above.

Education: Dental assisting programs are typically 1-year diploma or certificate programs. These programs tend to focus solely on technical training through classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction. Courses may include dental materials, radiology, chairside assisting, dental office administration and bio dental science.