Alabama is the 24th most populated state in the United States, with little under five million people calling it home. The state depends on well-informed health care personnel, such as dental assistants, to aid in maintaining the population’s overall good health.
Throughout the course of the year, these knowledgeable assistants are an invaluable resource for Alabama dentists. In the decade that will stretch from 2016 to 2026, the state of Alabama will gain around 620 new employment for dental assistants. During a normal year, there are around 480 job vacancies for these types of specialists.
The annual salary for dental assistants in the state of Alabama is typically close to $34,000. This is a considerable decrease from the average salary that assistants earn in the majority of other states.
| AreaName | Base Year | Employed | Projection Year | Projected Employment | Change | % Change | Projected Average Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2018 | 346,000 | 2026 | 384,700 | 38,700 | 19.5% | 44,800 |
| Alabama | 2016 | 3,520 | 2026 | 4,140 | 620 | 17.6% | 480 |
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The urban districts of Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville and Tuscaloosa are home to the state’s most lucrative employment opportunities for dental assistants. Columbus, Birmingham-Hoover, and Decatur are three further cities that rank among those with reasonably high incomes.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 60 | $17.61 | $36,630 | $24,160 | $29,100 | $37,420 | $45,460 | $49,800 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 110 | $16.05 | $33,390 | $26,620 | $28,330 | $31,100 | $38,440 | $45,560 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 690 | $17.10 | $35,560 | $27,700 | $31,660 | $35,910 | $40,310 | $45,740 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 270 | $17.26 | $35,910 | $24,680 | $30,280 | $35,790 | $41,200 | $47,140 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 180 | $15.58 | $32,400 | $23,620 | $27,190 | $31,640 | $37,370 | $42,890 |
| Decatur, AL | 120 | $16.47 | $34,260 | $26,880 | $28,760 | $32,090 | $40,380 | $46,090 |
| Dothan, AL | 100 | $15.00 | $31,200 | $25,880 | $27,780 | $30,980 | $35,370 | $38,410 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 120 | $15.87 | $33,010 | $25,880 | $28,390 | $32,330 | $38,290 | $43,870 |
| Gadsden, AL | 80 | $18.13 | $37,720 | $26,470 | $29,560 | $35,680 | $45,730 | $53,440 |
| Huntsville, AL | 410 | $15.81 | $32,890 | $25,300 | $27,990 | $31,430 | $37,690 | $45,110 |
| Mobile, AL | 300 | $14.88 | $30,950 | $23,340 | $26,400 | $30,910 | $36,190 | $39,220 |
| Montgomery, AL | 210 | $15.24 | $31,690 | $19,980 | $24,580 | $33,290 | $38,180 | $41,590 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 180 | $17.61 | $36,620 | $25,690 | $30,330 | $36,080 | $42,330 | $49,460 |
In the state of Alabama, the average annual salary for dental assistants is higher than the salaries of various other similar categories of health care professionals. These professionals include those who work as pharmacy technicians, nursing assistants, and medical assistants.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 6790 | $14.82 | $30,830 | $21,820 | $25,650 | $29,880 | $35,760 | $40,310 |
| Nursing Assistants | 22750 | $11.82 | $24,590 | $18,750 | $21,220 | $23,710 | $27,090 | $31,640 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1790 | $27.75 | $57,730 | $39,450 | $49,590 | $58,580 | $67,660 | $78,300 |
| Dental Assistants | 3140 | $16.05 | $33,390 | $23,870 | $28,080 | $33,020 | $38,860 | $45,080 |
| Medical Assistants | 9580 | $14.05 | $29,220 | $21,120 | $24,460 | $28,570 | $32,940 | $39,490 |
How long does it take to become a dental assistant in Alabama?
Educational Opportunities Available to Dental Assistants in the State of Alabama – Even though there are no educational requirements that are mandated by the state for dental assistants in Alabama at this time, nearly all dental assistants would benefit from completing a formal dental assisting program that has been accredited by the Commission on Dental Assisting (CODA).
- CODA is the only organization in the United States that accredits dental and dental-related education programs at the post-secondary level.
- SPONSORED LISTINGS Programming Highlights: Penn Foster’s Dental Assistant career diploma program will teach you on-the-job skills such as dental health procedures, office operations, dentistry terminology use, and more – so that you can begin pursuing a career as a Dental Assistant.
These skills will allow you to perform dental health procedures, office operations, and dental terminology use. You are able to learn at your own speed and on your own timetable when you enroll in Ashworth College’s online programs. You might graduate with the knowledge and abilities necessary to begin pursuing a career as a dental administrative assistant in as little as four months.
There are now six dental assisting programs in Alabama, all of which are certified by the CODA, all of which last between nine and eleven months, and all of which culminate in the recipient receiving a certificate upon completion. Studies in the following subject areas are typically included in the curriculum of dental assisting programs: Anatomy and terminology of the dental field Dental specialities Diet and nutrition Oral pathology (Medium: ) Microbiology Psychology of the patient CPROffice management Radiograph Dental law and ethical considerations Dentistry’s branch of pharmacology Communications The completion of a dental assisting program that has been accredited by the CODA prepares students to work as dental assistants at the entry level and to take one or more of the DANB certification examinations, such as the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential.
The CDA credential is a voluntary credential in Alabama that is frequently pursued by dental assistants who want to have an advantage over their peers in the profession. The practical experience is the capstone component of each and every CODA curriculum in dental assisting.
- Dental assistants have a variety of options available to them for furthering their education after completing a degree in dental assisting.
- An individual who works as a dental assistant, for instance, may decide to move on and earn an associate’s degree in dental hygiene.
- This would make it possible for them to work in a dental office, where they would be responsible for cleaning patients’ teeth and providing them with advice.
Dental hygienists in the state of Alabama are required to hold a license in order to work there, in addition to having completed a curriculum in dental hygiene. Associate degree programs in dental hygiene, much like those in dental assisting, are often approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
- It’s also possible for dental assistants to transition into careers as dental laboratory technicians, which are the individuals who fulfill patients’ prescriptions for bridges, crowns, and other dental prosthesis.
- Even though they get the most of their education on the job, these dental professionals frequently get certified via the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology.
Dental assistants have the option of pursuing further education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business or office administration, in order to advance their careers and become dental office managers.
Do you need to be certified to be a dental assistant in Alabama?
The following are the requirements to become a Dental Assistant in the state of Alabama: Because the qualifications to become a dental assistant vary from state to state, it might be challenging to understand what is required of you to become one. Dental assistants in the state of Alabama are not required to meet any state-mandated training standards or pass any state-mandated exams at this time.
The pursuit of any kind of formal education or certification is completely optional. On the other hand, it is widely acknowledged that receiving a degree from an institution that has been granted accreditation will result in professional advantages and is frequently favoured by employers. See the following for further information on how to become a dental assistant in Alabama.
Dental assistant duties in Alabama Programs for dental assistants that have been accredited in Alabama programs offered by DANB in Alabama Alabama license requirements for Dental Assistants Dental assistant income in Alabama Alabama career comparisons for Dental Assistants
Do you have to be certified to be a dental assistant in Alabama?
Under the direct supervision of a qualified dentist, dental assistants in Alabama are permitted to execute fundamental supporting dental treatments that are outlined in the state’s dental practice legislation. Additionally, dental assistants are allowed to legally handle dental x-ray equipment.
Can dental assistant suture?
The duties that arise on a daily basis – The reality of the matter is that the responsibilities of a dental assistant will vary from practice to practice and state to state. In certain practices, dental assistants are responsible for the exclusive treatment of patients.
- In others, they could help with the daily operations of the office.
- On sometimes, they will be accountable for both of these things.
- When a dental assistant gets to the office in the morning, he or she may be asked to take care of various administration responsibilities, including as filing, scheduling appointments, and phoning patients to confirm their appointments.
After that, he or she will set up the examination and operating rooms, in addition to cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the equipment. It’s possible for the dental assistant to welcome patients as they arrive and show them to an examination room.
- Following the completion of a medical history form, the assistant will next work alongside the dentist to perform surgical operations employing four-handed dentistry.
- After a dental operation, a dental assistant may remove sutures or provide anesthesia to the gums in preparation for the procedure.
- There are several states that allow dental assistants to apply fluoride treatments to patients’ teeth in order to prevent cavities.
After the procedure is over, a dental assistant may instruct the patient on how to properly care for themselves as directed. The taking of X-rays and processing them may be one of the more exciting aspects of a day in the life of a dental assistant. This requires the X-ray to be placed within the mouth of the patient, and depending on the office, it may also include processing the X-ray film or using digital processing on the digital X-ray.