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How to Become a Dental Assistant in Maine

Becoming a dental assistant in Maine is a promising and lucrative career opportunity. The dental industry in Maine is overseen by the Maine Board of Dental Practice. The board has split the profession of dental assisting into three levels. Dental Assistant, DANB Certified Dental Assistant and Expanded Function Dental Assistant.  Each tier allows for different duties to be performed and requires specific qualifications to be obtained.

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Unlicensed Dental Assistants are not required to possess any specific training or licenses, and they are qualified to perform essential supportive functions, some of which include:

  • Discussing oral health with patients
  • Chairside assisting
  • Taking and recording vital signs
  • Discussing disease control and nutrition with patients

DANB Certified Dental Assistants are required to pass an examination through the Dental Assisting Board (DANB). There are three ways to qualify for the exam:

  1. Graduate from a program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and hold a current CPR certification approved by DANB.
  2. Be a high school graduate, or possess your GED and have 3,500 hours of relevant work experience, plus hold a current CPR certification approved by DANB
  3. Have held a CDA from the DANB in the past or have graduated from a CODA-accredited DDS or DME program, or graduated with a dental degree from a foreign country, plus hold a current CPR certification approved by DANB.

Once one of these pathways has been completed, the candidate can sit DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant examination. The exam consists of three components that can be taken all at once or separately, as long as all sections are completed within a five-year time period.

Dental assistants at this level are allowed to perform all the duties of an unlicensed assistant plus

  • Place temporary fillings
  • Remove excess cement from tooth surfaces

Expanded Function Dental Assistants wishing to obtain their expanded functions license must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Hold a current CPR certificate
  • Have a high school diploma or GED

And

  • Have completed a formal EFDA education program approved by the MBDP at a CODA-accredited program and hold CDA accreditation or a registered dental hygienist license

OR

  • Hold a credential as an EFDA in another state or Canadian province that is found by the MBDP to be at a similar level, and three years of practice under that credential.

Once the above requirements have been met, the candidate must complete a jurisprudence exam through the Maine Board of Dental Practice.

Dental assistants possessing their expanded functions license may perform all of the duties of unlicensed dental assistants and DANB certified dental assistants as well as, but not restricted to the following responsibilities:

  • Supragingival polishing
  • Applying topical fluorides
  • Placing and removing periodontal dressings
  • Fabricating temporary crowns and bridges

It should be noted that all dental assistants, no matter their level of practice, must obtain their dental radiographer certification. In order to do so, all assistants must:

  • Be 18 years old
  • Hold current CPR certification
  • Hold a high school diploma or GED

And complete one of the following:

  1. Pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) examination
  2. Pass the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination
  3. Complete a dental radiography course from a CODA-approved dental school where a test on dental radiography technique and safety was completed.

Once the above requirements have been met, candidates must complete the jurisprudence exam through the MBDP.

Studying in Maine

Although not required for unlicensed dental assistants, those wishing to pursue the higher levels or expand beyond dental assisting will find formal training to be highly beneficial. Courses approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) are integral to those wishing to become certified or obtain their expanded functions license.

There is currently only one school offering a CODA approved program for dental assistants in Maine:

  • The University of Maine at Augusta-Bangor, Bangor, MA

For those unable to travel or who wish to study at their own pace, Penn Foster offers an excellent online course in dental assisting.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

Dental assistants across the nation face a bright future. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the profession of dental assisting is expected to grow by 11 percent from 2020 – 2030. This works out to 150 new positions each year from 2018 – 2028. The outlook for Maine is bright as well, with a predicted growth of 5 percent.

Dental assistants in the U.S can expect to earn an average of $41,180 per year. The average salary for those employed in Maine is even better at $45,420 per year.

Working in Maine

For those looking to find work as dental assistants in Maine, the BLS shows that the highest-paid dental assistants worked in Androscoggin and Cumberland counties. The majority of dental assistants work for dental offices, physician offices, teaching hospitals and outpatient care centers. 

Dental assistants looking to advance their career in the dental industry should consider pursuing a career as a dental hygienist where job stability and salary significantly improves.

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