Dental Assistants
United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 31-9091 occupational group)
AI exposure in published research
Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.
Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"
Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate
Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.
- Human rater basis
- 10.0%
- GPT-4 rater basis
- 26.7%
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
16 rated tasks · 6 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (37.5%)
- Version:
- gh-main-0471612
- License:
- MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index
Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index
- Observed exposure
- 0.0%
Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.
16 tasks · usage observed in 0 · mean 0.0%
Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex
AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.
- Version:
- hf-lmi-2026-03
- License:
- CC BY 4.0
- Observation period:
- — (not applicable to this release)
- Model:
- — (not stated by the source)
- Definition source:
- https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts
2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05
One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.
Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.
The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.
The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.
These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.
Task Breakdown
- Manage patient records
- Schedule appointments
- Prepare treatment area and instruments
- Assist during dental procedures
About This Occupation
If you work as a Dental Assistant, AI is beginning to change parts of your role. With an automation risk of 25/100 and overall exposure at 28%, this role faces medium transformation. The highest-impact area is schedule appointments at 80% automation, followed by manage patient records at 72%. However, hands-on clinical tasks like assisting during procedures remain firmly human at 8%. This is classified as a 'mixed' role. BLS projects +7% growth through 2034. AI is primarily automating the administrative side while physical chairside duties remain essential.
ISCO-08 classification
Dental Assistants and Therapists
Indirect mapping — this occupation is linked to the ISCO unit group by a rule-based fallback.
Definition
ILO original text (English)
Dental assistants and therapists provide basic dental care services for the prevention and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth, according to care plans and procedures established by a dentist or other oral health professional.
Definition & vocabulary source
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure
License: ILO CC BY 4.0
Official occupational information
- ONET29-1292.00
Dental Hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
View original - ONET31-9091.00
Dental Assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
View original
Frequently Asked Questions
The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 0.0%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 10.0% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.
They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.
No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.
Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation
Mar 2026: Published evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on dental assistants (22% automation risk, 24% exposure)
[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]