There are a wide variety of dental assistant training programs available, both within your state and online. Completing this entry level allows you to obtain employment and decide how much further you wish to pursue a dental care career. You may want to consider advancing your skills as a dental hygienist! Earning this certification opens up a meaningful, rewarding and in-demand career field! See below for a sample listing of local schools and their course details. Be sure to click on the school or schools that interest you and complete the simple form for free details on start dates and tuition fees.
It is vitally important to be informed! Be sure to request information from more than one school in order to compare which program is best for you.
1. Select Your State Below For Full School Listings OR
2. Complete The Simple Search Request Form
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Get a hands-on education at Lincoln Tech. Designed for today’s tough job market, our in-depth programs cover many fields including: Health Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Hospitality, Automotive Technology, HVAC Technology and Electrical Systems Technology. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. Programs vary by campus.
Programs:
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Assistant
Arizona College prepares students to work in the 'real world' of medicine. With the use of lecture and laboratory teaching, we provide our students with hands on experience.
Programs:
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Assisting
At UEI College, we want you to succeed. We’re like a family and we want you to be a part of it. From the moment you enter ourschool, to graduation and beyond, we are right there with you.
Programs:
- Dental Assistant (10-Month Diploma Program)
- Medical Office Specialist (10-Month Diploma Program)
- Medical Assistant (10-Month Diploma Program)
Train for the real-world skills that help you launch a successful technology or healthcare career with a degree, or diploma from Florida Career College.
Programs:
- Dental Assistant (10-Month diploma program)
- Medical Assistant Technician (10-Month diploma program)
Programs:
- Dental Technician
- Dental Assisting
- Intra Oral Dental Assistant
- And more...
Blue Cliff College was founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1987 with the goal of becoming one of the most respected Massage Therapy training centers in the nation. In June of 1989, the College in Louisiana received its Proprietary School License from the state. In 1998, the Continuing Education College was proud to receive accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is a recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education.
Programs:
- Dental Assisting - Diploma
- Clinical Medical Assisting - Diploma
Our mission is YOUR SUCCESS!
When you succeed, we succeed. That is why we provide high-quality, specialized career preparation for all our students. Our goal is to help you find your rewarding career.
Our Mission Statement:
To provide high-quality, specialized career preparation or enhancement to meet and cope with technological changes resulting in employment and career success.
Programs:
- Dental Assistant, Diploma
- Medical Assisting, Diploma
You can prepare for a new career with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find new opportunities after graduation.
Programs:
- Certificate - Dental Assisting
- Certificate - Medical Assistant
Get Career-Relevant Training with Miller-Motte College!
- Barbering
- Massage Therapy
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics Technology
- Business Administration
- Allied Health Management
- Medical Clinical Assistant
- Veterinary Technician
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Criminal Justice
- IT Support Specialist
- Mechatronics
Programs:
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Clinical Assistant
- Business Studies
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Administrative Assisting Technology
- Medical Assisting
- Professional Massage Therapy
- Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration
- Automotive Service Technician
- Combination Welding
- Diesel Heavy Truck
Programs:
- Dental Assisting - Diploma
- Medical Administrative Assisting Technology - Diploma
- Medical Assisting - Diploma
Without the help of a dental assistant, the dentist’s job would be much more difficult than it already is. In some dental practices such as those that do cosmetic work, dentists go from chair to chair doing complex procedures in tight mouth spaces. It is the dental assistant who makes sure the doctor has the right tools for the job, with the right patient, and at the right time. Dental assistants also provide reassurance to patients who are oftentimes full of anxiety when going to see a dentist. They do this by explaining what the dentist is going to do and then giving post-operative advice for care of the dentist’s work. It is a fast growing field and will always be open to opportunities, especially as the population ages and requires more bridge, denture, and crown work.
It is vitally important to be informed!
Be sure to request information from more than one school in order to compare which program is best for you.
1. Select Your State Below For Full School Listings OR
2. Complete The Simple Search Request Form
Get Your Degree!
Find schools and get information on the program that’s right for you.
Powered by Campus Explorer
More Popular Dental Assisting Schools
[qs_listing areaofinterest="DENTAL-ASSISTING,DENTAL-TECHNOLOGY,DENTAL-HYGIENE" iptogeo="true" campustype="both" multidealer="yes"]At a Glance
Other Job Titles: Certified Dental Assistant
Salary Range*: $23,000-$47,000; Median $33,000
Education/Training Required: 1-year certificate or associate’s degree
Desired Skills/Aptitude: Organizational skills, attention to detail, communication skills
Certification/Licensing: Certification from DANB; licensing varies by state
Locations with Best Opportunities:Minnesota, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Rhode Island
Employment Outlook: 31% growth through 2020 (faster than average)
Opportunities for Advancement: Dental assistants may further their education to get into other medical fields or even become a dentist.
What a Dental Assistant Does
The dental assistant performs a variety of tasks on any given day. They provide a high level of assistance to the dentists. Their duties can be classified as follows:
- Patient relations
- Administrative
- Procedure Assistance
- Lab work
The dental assistant is usually the first person seen by a visiting patient. Patients are also escorted to the dental chair and comforted by the assistant. Furthermore, dental assistants advise patients on cavity prevention and post-treatment care.
Their administrative duties include maintaining patient records and scheduling appointments. Some assistants may also help in the accounting area to include sending out bills and processing payments.
During a dental procedure, they give the dentist assistance by arranging and handing instruments, operating suction devices, removing sutures, and applying cavity prevention treatments.
They can also be used in the laboratory. These would be duties such as making impressions for crowns or dentures and processing x-rays.
The Workplace
Dental assistants work in dentist’s offices. They work under supervision by the dentists who run the practice. Dentist’s offices are typically busy places because dentists like to see more than one patient at once. They do this because there may be break periods for a patient in a chair and the dentist can go see another patient during that time. These could be break periods such as waiting for fillings and crowns to set, giving the patient a breather during a root canal, or waiting for anesthesia to take effect.
The dental assistant keeps the dentist organized while tending to multiple patients. A dentist may go another patient while the assistant runs suction on the current patient’s mouth to clean out debris. Then, the assistant must run to the chair where the dentist is currently at to be of assistance. It can make for a busy day and the dental assistant may be on their feet for the majority of it.
Education and Certification
Educational requirements for dental assistants vary among the different states. In some states, it is possible to get a job as a dental assistant with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. However, you always increase your opportunities for being hired in this field by attending either a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate’s degree program. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association is the accrediting authority for approved dental assistant programs.
Certification is also available from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Passing the examination makes the dental assistant a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
*Salary Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2012