Dental Assistants Career Guide for Minneapolis, MN

The dental assisting field is one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation. Over the next 6 years, this career field is expected to expand by 30%. Currently, there are 267,000 dental assistants working in hospitals, clinics, and private practices across the U.S. By 2016, this number will increase to 362,000+. In Minneapolis, MN, not only will aspiring dental assistants enjoy tremendous job growth, they will also enjoy the highest average annual salary for dental assistants in the country. Minneapolis dental assistants earn an average annual salary of $38,840, followed by Seattle dental assistants at $36,840 per year, and Boston, MA dental assistants at $36,390 per year.

The top paying industries for this occupation are religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations at an average annual salary of $37,480, followed by administrative and support services ($33,930 per year); federal, state, and local government ($32,920 per year); professional, scientific, and technical services ($32,670 per year), and hospitals ($30,700 per year).

In today's economy, it's obvious that American's must seek out jobs that offer financial security and stability. Dental assisting has this covered, but what about a fulfilling and challenging position? Fortunately, dental assisting has this covered as well. Dental assistants have a long list of challenging day-to-day responsibilities and the skills they possess are not easy to acquire. Dental assistants must satisfy a number of requirements before obtaining a dental assistant license or registration. A dental assistant license is required or recognized in 30 states, but in Minneapolis, MN, dental assistants must pass a state exam in order to become a "registered dental assistant" (RDA). And yes, registration is required in the state.

In order to qualify to take the Minneapolis dental assistant registration examination, potential dental assistants must have at least 200 hours of clinical experience, as well as successful completion of coursework in oral communications, written communications, and behavioral concepts. They must also successfully complete courses in biomedical sciences and professional dental and assisting. Once RDA status has been granted, dental assistants are free to apply for positions with top hospitals, clinics, private practices, religious organizations, and federal positions.

On any given day, dental assistants in most industries will set up instrument trays, prepare materials, record patient information, schedule appointments, take x-rays, clean teeth, fabricate temporary restorations, prepare bills, collect payments, complete insurance forms, and maintain databases. Dental assistants also teach patients about oral hygiene, provide post-operative instructions, and answer dental hygiene questions. They also make preliminary impressions and apply protective coatings to teeth. Most dental assistants (and dentists) would agree that there is an art to this profession and many assistants find their job duties very fulfilling and rewarding.

One final and possibly one of the most important benefits to choosing a career as a dental assistant, is flexibility. To accommodate patients' schedules, dental offices may offer early morning, evening, and weekend hours. This means, dental assistants will have a number of flexible schedules to choose from. Some dental assistants work a set full-time schedule during the day, while others may work a full-time schedule consisting of a combination of early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Roughly 35% of all dental assistants work part-time, flexible schedules.

For more information about Minneapolis, MN dental assistant careers or dental assistant careers in general, please visit:

The Minnesota Board of Dentistry - http://www.dentalboard.state.mn.us/Home/tabid/73/Default.aspx

College Degree Report - Dental Assistants - Career, Salary & Employment Info

College Degree Report - Dental Assistant Careers: Employment & Salary Trends for Aspiring Dental Assistants

The American Dental Association (ADA) - http://www.ada.org/

The U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm