# Dental Assistant jobs and career guide

Category: Dental
Page: https://medroles.com/roles/dental-assistant/
Also called: Chairside Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant, RDA, EFDA, Expanded Function Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant

Dental assistants work chairside with dentists: they prepare patients and instruments, take X-rays, sterilize equipment and keep procedures running smoothly.

## Typical US pay
$38k–$55k per year (approximate, entry level to experienced).

## What they do
- Seat patients and prepare treatment rooms and instruments
- Assist the dentist chairside during procedures
- Take dental X-rays and impressions where state law allows
- Sterilize instruments and keep infection control logs

## Key skills
- Chairside assisting
- Dental radiography
- Sterilization
- Dental software
- Patient comfort

## Training
A dental assisting program (9 to 12 months) or on-the-job training, depending on the state.

## Licensing & certifications
Rules vary by state. Many states require a radiography certificate to take X-rays, and expanded functions (EFDA, RDA) need extra certification. The Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) from DANB is recognized nationwide.

## Open jobs (0)
None posted right now.