What are typical orthodontic assistant salaries?

Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

hmm

Higher pay scale for a chairside Ortho Assistant is $25.00 here in New Orleans. Basically my advice is. Work hard, always be available if possible. If your Doc is with a patient and it clock off time or lunch time. Stay and chairside with him if at all possible. This will show loyalty and trust me it goes a hell of a long way. Be compassionate and always put those patients first. Take all the constructive critism given and learn from it. How about anyone else. What's the pay range where your from?

WE START AT 8.00 to train and aft almost 4 yrs im only at about 14.00 an hour. =( I need to move to somewhere else

I started with no dental experience at about $9.00 an hour. I have been doing records and chairside assisting for two years and now make $14.00
Here's a secret..you don't have to go to dental assisting school to be in ortho. I was lucky and found a doctor willing to train me :) Saved me over 12,000 dollars! And he payed me to learn!

im about 20 years ld and i work for an orthodontist. i started off as the tool girl and made about 10 bucks an hour.right before college she offered me a full time job and i took it. now after 3 years i make about 19.00 an hour.
Do not go to dental assisting school because you dont need it. its all training in the office, you need to be energetic and your always moving! good fun job tho

i work for an orthodontist right now i started at 6.50 to sterilize and pull charts. now i am working on patients and have only been with this orthodontist for only 2 years and im at 14.50. i am only 18 years old it all depends on the Dr. and what you are willing to do to move up.never be afraid to ask for a raise!

Angela in Scottsdale, Arizona said: I started with no dental experience at about $9.00 an hour. I have been doing records and chairside assisting for two years and now make $14.00
Here's a secret..you don't have to go to dental assisting school to be in ortho. I was lucky and found a doctor willing to train me :) Saved me over 12,000 dollars! And he payed me to learn!

I was just wondering do you know of any other dentist willing to train. I am suppose to start dental assistant school next month but if I could save that money that would be great. Please let me know. I live in Phoenix Arizona, you can also email me at christian22672@gmail.com. I don't mind starting off at a low rate. I just would like a career in dental and would like to adventually be a dental assistant instructor. Thank you Lyn

Host said: Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

O.K., I really don't know HOW in the world I came about all of your wonderful comments on this forum, but I have a huge (maybe a couple) piece(s) of advice to give you ALL, just from almost 20 years of experience int his field of dentistry, and especially orthodontics for the last ten.-----First of all, it would help immensely if you were bi-lingual. It's never too late to learn spanish, and it having been my first language, I realize now, how important it is to know it, and be able to communicate with people that can't, and yet need the treatment, and anre eager and willing to pay the money! Second of all, having graduated from the NUMBER ONE community college in all of California, I can assure you 100% that YES it does matter, if you go to dental assisting school or not. when I was in school, we used to call the girls that were just "on-the-job-trained" the "monkey-see/monkey-do" ones. Why? because they/you are being taight what and how to do things, especially in such a beautifu and rich field as is ORtho, but you truly are not learning deep inside the "why's" behind what you're doing. AS much as a dentist may explain things to you in order to explain to parents, it's NEVER the same as when you have the knwoledge of your own memory from school, and it's something that will always stick with you, and make even more sense once you put your knowledge to use in an office. So please, take my words of wisdom to heart, and especially if you as young as most of you say you are, take full advantage that you can go to school, and do it.
As far as salaries, I can totally reelate to what you're saying, because I just moved to Florida from California about a bit over 2 years ago, and in thotal shock as far as salaries go over here. I speak four languages, have been cross

Anyway, what I was saying also, was that I have been cross-trained for front and back, speak four languages, and know about four of the many software programs that are out there, and I just last Friday scored a job for decnt money, but having to put my husband thru the trouble of having to take me 30 minutes from my house. In the immediate area that I live in, doctors don't pay well in comparison to California, but then again, it's apples and oranges---2 fdifferent states, and 2 economies, unfoortunately different, although prices for everything has gone up so much.....anyways, take to heart what I said earlier, and please, I'd be glad to get your feedback anytime.

XiXi in Hollywood, Florida said: O.K., I really don't know HOW in the world I came about all of your wonderful comments on this forum, but I have a huge (maybe a couple) piece(s) of advice to give you ALL, just from almost 20 years of experience int his field of dentistry, and especially orthodontics for the last ten.-----First of all, it would help immensely if you were bi-lingual. It's never too late to learn spanish, and it having been my first language, I realize now, how important it is to know it, and be able to communicate with people that can't, and yet need the treatment, and anre eager and willing to pay the money! Second of all, having graduated from the NUMBER ONE community college in all of California, I can assure you 100% that YES it does matter, if you go to dental assisting school or not. when I was in school, we used to call the girls that were just "on-the-job-trained" the "monkey-see/monkey-do" ones. Why? because they/you are being taight what and how to do things, especially in such a beautifu and rich field as is ORtho, but you truly are not learning deep inside the "why's" behind what you're doing. AS much as a dentist may explain things to you in order to explain to parents, it's NEVER the same as when you have the knwoledge of your own memory from school, and it's something that will always stick with you, and make even more sense once you put your knowledge to use in an office. So please, take my words of wisdom to heart, and especially if you as young as most of you say you are, take full advantage that you can go to school, and do it.
As far as salaries, I can totally reelate to what you're saying, because I just moved to Florida from California about a bit over 2 years ago, and in thotal shock as far as salaries go over here. I speak four languages, have been cross

Thats if your in Brazil..... We are in AMERICA>>>

LIsten here, Miss Smart Alec, in case you're not aware, and especially if you don't live in the southern part of Florida such as I, we also live in a very DIVERSE country, and there are tons of languages spoken here, BESIDES English. If I were you, I'd wise up to yourself, instead of with others!

yes this is a diverse country and we shouldnt have to conform to press one for englsih. and getting a job should not depend on if you can speak spanish.

Yes, it is a plus to speak another language but I do disagree how important you say it is. 98% of Doctors do not care whether you speak english or not. Anyone can get paid just about their asking price, you just need the experience and look around for the RIGHT office. Dont take the first one you got. Now as for me, I did go to school but I went to school for General Dentistry and ended up working in an Ortho office before I gradated college. And I trained on the job. Yes, I was under paid but thats the whole point about looking around. Utilize everything you have, and guys NO you dont have to speak another language to get great pay. I dont speak anything other than english and I do!

wow, real mature.

believe me we are well aware who is the minority here.. the working class WHITE american that pays for your welfare checks GO OBAMA!!!

Angela in Scottsdale, Arizona said: I started with no dental experience at about $9.00 an hour. I have been doing records and chairside assisting for two years and now make $14.00
Here's a secret..you don't have to go to dental assisting school to be in ortho. I was lucky and found a doctor willing to train me :) Saved me over 12,000 dollars! And he payed me to learn!

Here's another secret for your benefit: If and when you DO decide to go to school, you'll realize all the "why's" to the what-you're-doing. You see, as well as a dentist may train you, you know what and how to do things, but the beauty of going to school, is that you learn all the anatomy of the head and neck, therefore have the why's behind it all, for it to make total and complete sense to you---that's if you have true passion for dentistry as I. I wish you the best either way, and never give up---reach for the stars!

Michelle in Algonquin, Illinois said: believe me we are well aware who is the minority here.. the working class WHITE american that pays for your welfare checks GO OBAMA!!!

yeah, right on on the going for OBAMA, girlfriend, but I hate to break it to you---I'm far from being on welfare, so watch yourself---I certainly hope you weren't referring to me, or anyone else out there reading this, and they're just as hard as an ortho assistant as I have been for quite some time now.......

Are we talking about Ortho or politics?

JOLE in Kenosha, Wisconsin said: WE START AT 8.00 to train and aft almost 4 yrs im only at about 14.00 an hour. =( I need to move to somewhere else

I am also between $14 to $15 an hour and have been an assistant for 4 1/2 years. I also do consultations with patients and parents. We see about 100 patients a day and we all feel we are not paid nearly enough or appreciated for all we do!

XiXi in Hollywood, Florida said: Anyway, what I was saying also, was that I have been cross-trained for front and back, speak four languages, and know about four of the many software programs that are out there, and I just last Friday scored a job for decnt money, but having to put my husband thru the trouble of having to take me 30 minutes from my house. In the immediate area that I live in, doctors don't pay well in comparison to California, but then again, it's apples and oranges---2 fdifferent states, and 2 economies, unfoortunately different, although prices for everything has gone up so much.....anyways, take to heart what I said earlier, and please, I'd be glad to get your feedback anytime.

Wow! You must be very intelligent to speak four languages and be such a superb, knowledgeable assistant. Why didn't you become an orthodontist or a linguist instead of an assistant? You could brush up on your spelling and English skills.

I've been in ortho for 14 years. I started when I was 18 years old and found an awesome doctor to train me on the job and educate me on all the hows and whys. I make $24 an hour. I work hard and I think cross-training is key. TC/FO and assisting. Getting along with others is also key, which explains the $14 some of you are making....

Hello,
I recently finished dental assisting school and I feel like I have been ripped off. I just been assigned to an Ortho office and we never touched that specialty in class. Is there any information you can share that might be helpful? For instance what is the basic tray set up for an ortho procedure, what dental material is mostly used, what is the starting rate for this area, what is a basic daily schedule? If you can think of anything please let me know and any information you can share is greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

our basic tray is a weingart, bird beak, distiled end cutter wax pencil goze hemostat scaler and mouth mirror and a ligature cutter. ortho is the easiest part in dentistry for an assistant becuase we really only tie and untie and prep for brackets.

The best advice I can give is...go with the flow. Every office is different and you will learn your own schedule, what instruments your office places on the trays, and various alginates that might be used. You will ease into all of these things in time. Do communicate with your Dr. on his wants and needs and ask what techniques he wants you to work on. Also salaries are all different depending on the area you live in.

Which position pays more an orthodontic chairside assistant or an ortho lab technician?

lakesha in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said: Hello,
I recently finished dental assisting school and I feel like I have been ripped off. I just been assigned to an Ortho office and we never touched that specialty in class. Is there any information you can share that might be helpful? For instance what is the basic tray set up for an ortho procedure, what dental material is mostly used, what is the starting rate for this area, what is a basic daily schedule? If you can think of anything please let me know and any information you can share is greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

Hi. Listen, I think it'd be a bit hard to give you advise on exactly what is the "best" tray set ups for ortho, because it really has alot of variables. For instance: what kind of office you're working in, whether it's a private Orthodontist, or in a clinic setting, where you have all kinds of specialties, whether or not you have a sterilization person designated or not, etc. In any event, there are different types of set-ups, indeed for diff. types of procedures, yet again, every office is diff. For my current office I have: Mouth mirror, three- prong, and bird beak for retainer checks, and that's only if the patient has one or both Hawley retainers, so that the Dr. may need to make any type of adjustments on the wires of the ret's. If you have a pt. with Invisible ret.'s, just a mouth mirror, and a possible slow-speed with an acryllic bur will do, in case the ret. is rubbing against the gum, he or you can smooth it off for the pt. Now, for initial Bondings, our ster. person sets up our trays with the following: 3 plastic sleeve covers, one for the saliva ejector, air/h2o syringe tip, and the high-vac suction tip; also a half-hollenback for removal of excess bonding material when I'm bonding the brackets on, 4 cotton rolls, and a bracket placement gauge for the Dr. to use when he comes to do the final placemtn prior to me curing the brackets at the end. 2 B cont'd.

lakesha in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said: Hello,
I recently finished dental assisting school and I feel like I have been ripped off. I just been assigned to an Ortho office and we never touched that specialty in class. Is there any information you can share that might be helpful? For instance what is the basic tray set up for an ortho procedure, what dental material is mostly used, what is the starting rate for this area, what is a basic daily schedule? If you can think of anything please let me know and any information you can share is greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

NOw, on our part, we grab a "short rack" or long one, already set up from the ster. person. For initial bondings, the short rack has the basic weingart, bird beak, distal end cutter, and hemostat to tie the patient in. Then again, one of the latest brackets are the smart clips, which don't need color ties, therefore there are two diffent types of instruments you need for removing and "snapping" in the first wire into that kind of bracket---they're awesome, cuz you don't need to tie the patient in and they already come pre-pasted with the bonding material to them, so after etching, we just use the L-pop on all the teeth, and direct bond. O.K., now for heavier wires, our Long racks have a weingart, dist. end- cutter, hemostat, bird beak, along with two other instruments whick I'm blanking on right now, but that are used in the bending of heavier wires. Then we each have at our own unit the shield, as well as the curing light to cure the brackets, one arch at a time, after the Dr. comes and does the final placement. Oh! We also use the awesome Nola cheek retractor for the best isolation, and best suction in order to keep a dry field, so that you don't get saliva contamination. As for our De-Band trays, we have the pre set-ups of: the sleeve covers, a band-removing plier for the bands, if any(we bond all molars for the most part), ...let me continue on nxt pge...

lakesha in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said: Hello,
I recently finished dental assisting school and I feel like I have been ripped off. I just been assigned to an Ortho office and we never touched that specialty in class. Is there any information you can share that might be helpful? For instance what is the basic tray set up for an ortho procedure, what dental material is mostly used, what is the starting rate for this area, what is a basic daily schedule? If you can think of anything please let me know and any information you can share is greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

then, on our part, we set up a handpiece with a gold-shank bur so that we can remove the cement from the brackets, as well as four different color poslishing tips, which are used with the slow speed handpiece. Then the only major tray set-up we have is for bandings, which come with the usual from the sterl. person, and she also sets them up with a band-removing plier, a band pusher, a scaler for cement removal and cotton pliers. Then on our end, we set up chap stick, which we keep tons of to place in the holes of the bands, so that the cement doesn't go in there, and set up so hard, that later, you're not able to get your wires thru them, along with our cement from fuji, a spatula, a mixing pad, and a few alcohol 2x2's to immediatley clean your spatula. From there, we use our own discretion as to which type of rack we need. It's also great to have an alginator at every unit, in case you need to take an impression, instead of mixing by hand---that's the worst in my opinion. Hope all this helps, and feel free to e-mail me personally at any time, if you'd like some more tips, especially for marketing your office. My e-mail is robnxnchrist@gmail.com. Take care and God bless.

Angela in Scottsdale, Arizona said: I started with no dental experience at about $9.00 an hour. I have been doing records and chairside assisting for two years and now make $14.00
Here's a secret..you don't have to go to dental assisting school to be in ortho. I was lucky and found a doctor willing to train me :) Saved me over 12,000 dollars! And he payed me to learn!

$12,000 WOW! I went to the community college here where I live, it tooke me 7 months to complete and cost me less than $1,000! Glad I live here! I am also glad I went to school even though ortho is mostly on the job training any way...I appreciated having the basic knowledge and skills of the dental field. But to each their own and if the doctor will pay I would say free is even better!

Hi everyone,
I am so glad I found this website. I just finished a 2 week classroom course in Dental Assisting and now I am starting my actual hands on training next Monday in the sum of 200 hours and then I will graduate from the apprenticeship Program as a Dental Assistant. The program that I am taking is offered through the Red Cross here in Germany for the the Military Spouses. I feel fortunate to get this little classroom knowledge that I have gotten however I feel it is just not enough. Do you feel the 200 hours of handson is enough to actually be able to get a job in the United States or should I look into a online course or another course here in Germany for the classroom part. The externship will not be a problem because I can volunteer as long as I like. Thanks for any replies

i am going to do the same program. right now i work in the United States and i started with no expierence so you are ahead of the game. but i am getting married and my husband will be going into the army. i have heard about this program so any info would be soo helpful.i have so many qustions thanks

Hi Michelle,
The program is really good to go through they will place you on a volunteer basis in their dental clinic here on the military post, but they cannot guarentee you a job. It's a great program for someone that jsut wants to learn the basics of General Dentistry. What types of questions did you have?

oh so it is only volunteer? or is it a realy job? and was it expensive? or did they help you pay for some of it? when you are done with the program are you classified as a Certified Dental Assistant? sorry for all of the questions! thank you though!!

Michelle,
The only cost involved is the $20.00 for a textbook. As far as if you are a certified dental assistant when you finish, no you are not however you do get a certificate as a dental assistant that is all that is required to work in the military dental offices and most of the nonmilitary ones. Here in Germany all you need is the certificate and atleast 10 weeks of hands on dental assisting and you can get a job. Or you can volunteer in the dental clinic here as long as you like. I actually start volunteering next week in radiology in the dental clinic. I don't mind the questions

Hi! I'm new on the area of Miami. I wanted to get advise on the best way to get a job as an orthodontic assistant, is there a specific site with job offerings,of should I fax CV's to different offices and offer my services as an assistant, or should I go personally to the offices? Thanks for any suggestion, Claudia from Miami

I started in ortho about 4 1/2 years ago. With no prior experience. I started at $8.00 p/h and now make $21.00 p/h. I began on Long Island and now am moving back to Seattle Washington. I made sure to learn everything possible that made an Ortho office run don't get me wrong assisting is my personal preferance. I also took tests with DANB to become certified and that made my salary jump. Good Luck!

There are 2 sites you might want to check our for orthodontic jobs/clinical training. Women in Orthodontics (www.womeninortho.org) is a networking group and the Academy of Orthodontic Assisting provides additional training for chairsides. (orthoassisting.net)

Do you know how to use spell check or did they forget to teach you that in your claim for how important it is to go to school.In any job if you can prove yourself you will move forward in salary pay, school or no school. I know one of each and the woman who never took a class and worked in ortho did better and excelled further than the woman who recieved her certificate for ortho asst. They both have been assisting the same number of years.

Hello everyone-
I also just got out of a dental assisting program that, in my opinion, did not prepare me for the field of dentistry. Any one who may be thinking of going into a da program, make sure you have actual clinic time and not just a lab where you don't assist a dentist!...I'm thinking of going into a specialized field such as ortho b/c I totally feel in general there is so much going on!...Can someone w ortho experience give me an idea of how many different procedures there are you must master..?

Hi Tara,
Feel free to call me any day BEFORE 2 pm, as that's the time that my kids get out of school, and after that, I'mliterally tied up with their homework---one fifth grader, and a first grader, so you can only imagine. And although I'm now a stay at hhome mom, my minutes are literally accounted for, but I will most definitlely take out time out to talk with you and help you out asmuch as I can from my 15 years I had. just please remind me who you are, as I have a million and one things going on at the same time. Thanks, good luck and God bless you!

You know what? I just realized that I can't give you my cell on here, so just e-mail me directly at robnxnchrist@gmail.com at around 8:15 if you can this morning, and after I'm done watching my morning mass, I'll do my best to call you---deal?

Thank you for your speedy response to my questions!...I, too, am a mother of two and know how crazy things are...I will email you for your number and hopefully get some great input..thanks again!

Michelle in Algonquin, Illinois said: our basic tray is a weingart, bird beak, distiled end cutter wax pencil goze hemostat scaler and mouth mirror and a ligature cutter. ortho is the easiest part in dentistry for an assistant becuase we really only tie and untie and prep for brackets.

hi..i saw that you said ortho is the easiest area for an assistant in dentistry...is this really true??..I dont want to feel like I am taking the easy way out, but i am currently in an externship w a general dentist and feel totally overwhelmed...the procedures seem long and so boring..if ortho is quick paced w not so many different tray setups and so forth, then I am totally wanting to go into this instead!..if you could reply w some input that would be great!

You are soooo right! For me, general was fun for me, but only as i learned the basics out of school, and got my foot in the door, but once I got the oportunity to go into the specialty of Ortho, there was NO TURNING BACK! --Especially when you've got such an awesome Doctor, such as Dr. Michael Teichman in Concord, Ca, as I did---he was all that and a bag of chips! My testimony about that man is beyond words, but the main thing, is for the Orthodontist himself to love what he does, inorder to share that passion and love for his work with his own employees, in order for them (you) to one day become that shining assistant. On top of everyting else, in Orthodontics, YOU, the assistant, become SUCH the valuable team player in the PATIENT's life becuase they are coming in to see you monthly, not just for a toothache, so you grow to have a special bond with them, and it'll get to a point where some of them will just want YOU, and none of the other assistants in the office.....you want more, hit me back up, and I'll be happy to give you more feedback from my experiences...good luck!

thank you so much for your feedback..i guess what im wondering is what exactly are the procedures/duties of an ortho assistant?...im overwhelmed w all the different procedures and tray setups in general...i need to start working and making money soon and want to do something i like..general is pretty boring..each hour feels like 2!

Hi! I'm a CDA that works in for a general dentist. I was interested in getting my orthodontic expanded functions. Does anybody know how I go about getting the expanded functions for ortho? I live in Port Charlotte, FL. Thanks to any that respond. Also what is the average salary for say an ortho assistant say with 3 years of experience?

Yes, Tara---
there are different set-ups in general BUT there are diff. ste-ups in every specialty alike! I think it sounds like (like me!) that you sorta just have your mind and heart set on Ortho and that's ok. But for now, AS FOR WHAT I CAN REMEMBER, for your general exam only/new patient, and/or emergency patient, you'e going to want what they call "The basic set up", which includes just a mirror, explorer and perio probe. EXTRAS for some brownie points to show the doctor that your ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF HIM are 2 pieces of gauze, in case for instance of bleeding gums, your pt. bib, and if you already know have the Dr.'s gloves for him, too =);

You gotta remember, now I'm telling you from back when I went and graduated in 1992, so things have mightily changed---nowadays, dentists also like for you to have most current x-rays up on the digital screen, whether they be a FMX and/or Pano that you took, (in Ortho a Pano and Ceph.), etc.....OMG!! my kids are fighting in the bath, gotta go, but PLEASE find out if there's a way that you can get my cell number PRIVATELY and I'll be MORE THAN GLAD TO HELP YOU get thru this tough journey that I was once on, and I can attest for a fact is not easy, but when you look back, you'll be thankful for all the effort you put in, I'mfree to talk every day till 2 p.m. when my kids gt home from school, then from 9-10, 10:30-ish pm. TTYL!

Hi There! You might want to check out www.womeninortho.org. We have a lot of members that might be able to provide valuable feedback. There's no charge to join.

Take care!

thank you..i did join already..will try them as well