How much can an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant earn per hour in Merrillville Indiana ?

I have been a Dental Assistant for 7 yrs. I am proficient in Coronal polishing. I can take a DIAGNOSTIC set of Full mouth and Bite-wing Radiographs. I have Lab work experience, i.e., taking impressions, pouring plaster models and cleaning %26amp; polishing removable appliances.





I was also responsible for training new Dental Assistants as hired.





What should I expect to earn in Merrillville, Indiana ?

How much can an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant earn per hour in Merrillville Indiana ?
You are an experienced Dental Assistant. Not a Hygienist. You will get what an experienced assistant will get. I would guess around $15-18/hour, depending on the call volume of the business. It also depends on the dentist you are working for. Typically, I pay my assistants around 14/hour. My hygienists make about $30/hour. When I was first in the work force, assistants did not make much because it was on the job training. However in today's dental world more and more are getting college degrees with emphasis in assisting, which makes it easier and less time consuming for dentists to train etc etc. I suggest going back to school and getting your hygiene degree and if you are able get your dental degree.





Good Luck with your new job.
Reply:I'm a dentist, but I practice in northern IN, not around Merrillville.





If you were working in my office, calling yourself "expanded duties" would mean you would not only be polishing fillings, but also placing them proficiently, preferrably certified in expanded duties via the class offered at the IU School of Dentistry. I don't know if you are from out of state, but IN is one of the few states in the nation that allow expanded duties dental assistants to place fillings. Assistants who are certified expanded and x-ray certified as well can expect to make at least $17/hr in my area. Depending on what type of office you'll be working in, it may be a little more or less. If I were you, I wouldn't settle for less than $15/hr.