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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More Popular Dental Assisting Schools
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 Florida Career College, our supportive faculty and staff are committed to helping you build a life and a future you can be proud of! We have dedicated financial aid representatives who will meet with you one-on one-to help you explore your payment options. Tutoring is available for when you need extra help and once it’s time to look for jobs, a dedicated career services representative will help you with your resume, interview skills and employer connections!
Programs:
- Dental Assistant (10-Month Diploma Program)
- Medical Assistant Technician (10-Month Diploma Program)
We Are Focused On Your Success!
At Berks Technical Institute (BTI), your success is our priority. We are dedicated to helping you gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in a career you love. Our training programs are career-focused and taught by industry-experienced instructors in learning labs that can empower each of our students as they enter the job market.
Programs:
- Dental Assisting - Associate in Specialized Technology
- Medical Clinical Assistant - Diploma
Get Personalized Attention at UMA
Ultimate Medical Academy is committed to helping you succeed in a healthcare career. That’s why we offer assistance from the very beginning, throughout training, and even after you graduate. One-on-one tutoring, pre-interview coaching, job search assistance, alumni services—they’re all included in our competitively priced tuition.
Programs:
- Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions
- Medical Assistant
Programs:
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
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
Our Campus is Now Open and Hands-On Lab is Back in Session! Get Ready to Work! Classes Start Now.
Programs:
- Dental Assisting (9 Months)
- Medical Assisting (9 Months)
Fortis Institute can give you the skills you need to train for a career in the healthcare field.
* Programs vary by location
* Please contact each individual campus for accreditation information
Programs:
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Assisting
- And more...
- Business Studies
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Administrative Assisting Technology
- Medical Assisting
- 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
At American Institute, we believe you can become whatever you want to be, and we’re ready to help you get there. We pride ourselves on working hard to deliver quality, innovative education to our students that gives them the skills to begin or enhance their careers. We try to help our students meet their goals of changing or enhancing their careers, and also help prospective employers of our graduates in meeting the workforce needs of the 21st century while actively participating in the communities we operate within.
Programs:
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Assisting
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