Monday, September 19, 2011

Dental Assistant Salary: The Highest Five Earnings By State and Metropolitan Area

Trends show that the dental assistant salary is supposed raise dramatically over the next seven years or so.The field of dentistry is continuing to expand in an economy where most job industries are suffering. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics stated in 2010 that the dental industry is supposed to expand by anywhere from 36 to 38 percent by 2018. With the number of dental assistant jobs totaling almost 300,000, this would mean 120,000 jobs are expected to become available. As demand increases for these positions, this trend is also expected to raise these positions' salaries.

There are a few statistics that might be of importance to those seeking positions in this industry. The vast majority of individuals that enter the oral assistant position wind up working in a local clinic or dentist office. However, these individuals can earn more money by working for hospitals or the federal government if the opportunity becomes available. On average, these individuals could earn a dental assistant salary that earns $5,000 more per year working in these environments compared to a local dentist.

Another important statistic for those looking to enter the dental industry is the states that employ the highest number of jobs for this position. California, as of 2010, had the largest amount of people employed with around 44,400. The next leading state was Texas with nearly 20,800 individuals employed in this field. Then New York, Florida, and Illinois followed with between 17,000 and 11,000 people employed.

The listing for the top five states with the highest average dental assistant salary are:

District of Columbia
District of Columbia employs nearly 430 people that on average earned $47,600 each year.

Alaska
Alaska has around 1,140 employees that average around $42,000 per year.

New Hampshire
New Hampshire estimates 1,540 worker make on average about $41,600 per year.

Minnesota
Minnesota has 5,320 people working that make on average $41,170 per year.

Connecticut
Connecticut employs nearly 3,760 individuals that make an average for $40,100 each year.

The list of metropolitan areas that yielded the highest average dental assistant salary are:

Manchester, NH
Manchester has around 210 employees and they earn on average $46,820 each year.

Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa employs nearly 740 individuals and each earns on average $44,690 per year.

Barnstable Town, MA
Barnstable Town has nearly 280 employees that make on average $44,570 each year.

Anchorage, AK
Anchorage has nearly 680 employees that earn around $43,700 on average each year.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has about 2,670 individuals employed that take home a yearly average of $43,600.

These metropolitan areas and states are some of the top places that will yield the largest average dental assistant salary. Even with the economy continuing to struggle, the dental industry has a great outlook for the years to come.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Best Online Dental Assistant Schools

Dental assistant schools online are the subject of this article and I am going to provide a brief overview of some of the best. The field of dentistry is growing year by year. Numbers show that jobs in this field will increase by nearly 40 percent in the next seven years. For this reason, many individuals are seeking certification or diplomas towards being a dental assistant.

Many people are searching for new job opportunities as the economy continues to dwindle. Switching careers is difficult for many due to the fact that they must continue to work a full-time job to support a family and do not have time to attend a college or university. It is this reason that schools who offer online degrees, diplomas, and certifications are becoming so desirable. These programs enable these students to maintain a full-time job while also allowing them to study in their own free time.

There are several different dental assistant schools that offer online programs. These schools provide the foundation and training needed to prepare for the CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) exam that is required before becoming a certified dental assistant. It is important that when searching for the right online program that meets your needs, you must first make sure that the school itself is accredited by the ADA (American Dental Association). One should also check the CDA exam passing rate that each school has for their students.

Of the various dental assistant schools that provide online programs, the following are a list of the top schools and universities:

Penn Foster

Strattford Career Institute

Ashworth College

Kaplan University

U.S. Career Institute (this institute provides courses sent through the mail)

This list of dental assistant schools will give you all the skills necessary to a successful future as an oral assistant. You will be able to make the career change you want, while still working full-time by taking part in these online degree programs.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Dental Assistant Training Courses

These dental assistant training courses are the types of classes one might encounter if entering the dentistry field. Many course areas essential to the procedures that one will apply in the field are covered by the certification programs. These courses will help in developing the student's knowledge of dental tasks and office operations.

While attending one of the 200 American Dental Association (ADA) accredited schools, some of the courses they will be expected to learn are:

Management of Dental Care The management of dental care class is a dental assistant training course that educates students about the basics of oral care and introduces them to materials that are involved with oral care. The class will also teach students how to properly inform patients of their after-care maintenance and aid in providing instruction on how to use material properly for the after-care process.

Sanitation of Materials The objective of this course is to teach students the proper basics and techniques of how to sanitize and clean the dental materials the work with on a regular basis. Students must also learn the process of cleaning and maintaining a clinic from open until close. This class educates them on the proper ways of doing this.