How to hire dental assistants
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies. • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays. • Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs. • Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory. • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures. • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist. • Record treatment information in patient records. • Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, active learning, monitoring and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, medicine and dentistry and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.11 an hour ($48,070 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for dental assistants
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to expose dental diagnostic x-rays. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What dental assistants do
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for dental assistants
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +7.4% over ten years, faster than average · about 53,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay dental assistants
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| Maine | $60,070 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| Oregon | $59,490 |
| Alabama | $39,080 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 |
| Utah | $37,760 |
See dental assistants pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Dental Hygienists
- Medical Assistants
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
- Surgical Assistants
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Surgical Technologists
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Physical Therapist Aides
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.