There were 363,880 active dental assistants in the U.S. in 2022, an increase of 96,040 assistants since 2001, according to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
The ADA collected the employment and job count data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 363,880 dental assistants in 2022 also represents a 4.8% increase over the 2021 figure.
Here is the number of dental assistants in the U.S. since 2001:
2001: 267,840
2002: 268,220
2003: 272,030
2004: 264,820
2005: 270,720
2006: 277,040
2007: 283,630
2008: 293,090
2009: 294,020
2010: 294,030
2011: 296,810
2012: 300,160
2013: 309,540
2014: 314,330
2015: 323,110
2016: 327,290
2017: 337,160
2018: 341,060
2019: 351,470
2020: 312,140
2021: 347,170
2022: 363,880