Dental Assistant Training

Many assistants work directly with patients to get them familiarized with an upcoming procedure. Assistants also take and process x-rays, review patients' dental records, and make sure these records are kept up-to-date. Some assistants help dentists prep for procedures by sterilizing and laying out tools and implements, and may provide assistance and keep the patient's mouth clean while the dentist works. Assistants also advise patients of strategies for promoting good oral health care, especially after a dental procedure.

Browse Dental Assistant Training schools by State:

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Recommended Schools

Brown Mackie College

Diploma
Diploma in Dental Assistant
Idaho, Ohio

Herzing University

Associate, Diploma
Diploma Dental Assisting: The goal of the dental assistant program is to train the student to become a productive member of the dental health team. This includes preparing the student for a variety of duties performed by the dental assistant in the contemporary dental office, including chair-side assisting, laboratory procedures, administrative duties and expanded functions.
Other programs available at Herzing University: AS in Dental Assisting
Minnesota

IntelliTec Medical Institute

Certificate
Dental Assistant
Colorado

Ultimate Medical Academy

Certificate
Dental Assistant Program
Florida

Other Dental Assistant Training Schools

American Career Institute

Certificate
Dental Assisting
Massachusetts

Kaplan University

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Nebraska

CDI College

Diploma
Dental Office and Chairside Assistant: This diploma program is both comprehensive and intensive. The dental assistant program trains individuals in a broad range of clinical and laboratory skills, including preparing dental clients for examination and treatments, performing radiological procedures and preparing various dental materials.
Other programs available at CDI College: Intra Oral Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant
British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario

Seacoast Career Schools

Certificate
Dental Assisting
New Hampshire

Keystone Technical Institute

Associate, Diploma
Dental Assistant Specialist: This program is designed to train students to assist the dentist or dental hygienist in chair side work as well as amalgam, matrices, rubber dams, take dental x-rays, record dental histories, record accurate charting, and other office procedures. Students are also encouraged to develop a professional attitude and a genuine desire to serve their patients in a mature and dependable manner.
Other programs available at Keystone Technical Institute: Dental Assistant
Pennsylvania

Medical Careers Institute

Associate
Dental Assisting - Associate
Virginia

Harris School of Business

Certificate
Dental Assisting
Delaware

Ashworth College

Coursework, Diploma
Medical and Dental Assisting
Online School

Medix

Diploma
Expanded Funtion Dental Assistant
Maryland

AmeriTech College

Diploma
Dental Assistant
Utah

ATI Career Training Center

Diploma
Dental Assisting: The Dental Assisting program prepares students for a dental assisting career within dental offices or clinics. The program features: *Four- and Six-Handed Chair-Side Assistance *Dental Front-Office Procedures *Dental Laboratory Techniques *Radiology *CPR *Externships
Other programs available at ATI Career Training Center: Dental Assisting (DA)
Oklahoma, Texas, Florida

Fortis College

Diploma, Associate
Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Utah, Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, South Carolina

Milan Institute

Diploma
Dental Assistant
Texas, Idaho, Nevada

Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care

Diploma
Dental Office and Chairside Assistant: This diploma program is both comprehensive and intensive. The dental assistant program trains individuals in a broad range of clinical and laboratory skills, including preparing dental clients for examination and treatments, performing radiological procedures and preparing various dental materials.
Other programs available at Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care: Intra Oral Level 2 Dental Assistant
Ontario

UEI College

Certificate, Diploma
Dental Assistant
Florida, California, Georgia

International Business College - Indianapolis

Associate
Dental Assisting
Indiana

Antonelli College

Associate
Dental Assisting
Mississippi

Charter College

Diploma
Dental Assistant
California

Fortis Institute

Associate, Diploma
Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Expanded Function Dental Assistant
Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, South Carolina

South Texas Vocational Technical Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Texas

Heald College

Associate
Dental Assisting
Hawaii, California

Medix College

Certificate
Dental Assisting
Georgia

Computer Career Center

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Texas

Everest Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting (Diploma)
Michigan, Texas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia

Kaplan College

Diploma, Certificate, Associate
Diploma: Dental Assistant: In our Dental Assistant Diploma program, your training will focus on a variety of clinical procedures you may perform on the job as you assist the dentist chairside during dental procedures. Learning how to take dental X-rays, sterilize instruments, set up trays for the dentist, perform four-handed dentistry, and take impressions of patients' teeth can help you as you prepare for success in the dental field.
Other programs available at Kaplan College: Certificate: Dental Assistant, Associate of Applied Science: Dental Assisting
Texas, California, Indiana, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina

Everest College

Diploma
Diploma - Dental Assisting
Missouri, Colorado, Virginia, California, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Indiana

Allied College

Diploma, Associate
Dental Assistant
Missouri

Tri-State Business Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Pennsylvania

Anthem Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Nevada

Meridian Career Institute

Certificate
Dental Assistant
Florida

Tri-State Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Alabama

Eagle Gate College

Diploma, Associate
Diploma in Dental Assisting, Associate of Science in Dental Assisting
Utah

Career Centers of Texas

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant: In our Dental Assistant Diploma program, your training will focus on a variety of clinical procedures you may perform on the job as you assist the dentist chairside during dental procedures. Learning how to take dental X-rays, sterilize instruments, set up trays for the dentist, perform four-handed dentistry, and take impressions of patients' teeth can help you as you prepare for success in the dental field.
Other programs available at Career Centers of Texas: Diploma: Dental Assistant
Texas

Provo College

Diploma
Diploma in Dental Assisting
Utah

Porter and Chester Institute

Certificate, Diploma
Dental Assisting
Connecticut, Massachusetts

Everest University

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Florida

Vatterott College

Diploma, Associate
Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting Specialist
Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa

Kaplan Career Institute

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts

Central Career School

Certificate
Dental Assistant
New Jersey

Texas Careers

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Texas

First Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Illinois

Vista College

Certificate
Dental Assisting
Utah

Texas School of Business

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Texas

Chattanooga College

Diploma
Dental Assistant
Tennessee

The Bryman School of Arizona

Associate
Dental Assistant
Arizona

YTI Career Institute

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Pennsylvania

CHI Institute

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Pennsylvania

Thompson Institute

Diploma
Diploma: Dental Assistant
Pennsylvania

Anthem College

Associate, Diploma
Dental Assistant
Missouri, Georgia, Oregon

Berdan Institute

Certificate
Dental Assistant
New Jersey

Medix School

Diploma, Certificate
Intra Oral Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting
Ontario, Maryland

Concorde

Associate, Diploma
Dental Assisting, Dental Assistant
Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, California, Florida, Missouri, Oregon

High-Tech Institute

Diploma
Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant - Diploma
Missouri, Texas, California, Nevada, Florida, Tennessee

Bradford School

Associate
Dental Assisting
Pennsylvania

Illinois School of Health Careers

Diploma
Dental Assistant
Illinois

Canadian Therapeutic College

Diploma, Certificate
Dental Office Chairside Assistant Diploma - Level I Diploma (Full-time Program), Dental Office Chairside Assistant - Intra Oral Level II Certificate (Part-time Program)
Ontario

All-State Career - Healthcare Division

Diploma
Expanded Function Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting
Pennsylvania, Maryland

American Career College

Certificate
Dental Assistant
California

Summit Career College

Certificate
Dental Assistant
California

American Institute School of Health Careers

Diploma
Dental Assistant
Florida

Aiken Technical College

Certificate
Dental Assisting Certification
South Carolina

Akron Institute

Associate, Diploma
AAS in Dental Assisting, Diploma in Dental Assisting
Ohio

Trillium College

Diploma
Dental Chairside Assistant
Ontario

Blake Austin College

Certificate
Dental Assisting
California

National Institute of Technology

Diploma
*Dental Assisting
Ohio

San Joaquin Valley College

Associate
Dental Assisting
California

SmileSystems School of Dental Assisting - Rockledge

Diploma
Dental Assisting
Pennsylvania

Carrington College California

Certificate, Associate
Dental Assisting
California

Carrington College

Diploma, Certificate, Associate
Dental Assisting
New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho

Newbridge College

Diploma
Dental Assistant
California

Other Community and Technical Colleges

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Community College of the Air Force

130 W Maxwell Blvd, Montgomery, 36112
Telephone:(334) 953-2223
http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/ccaf/

George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville

801 Main St NW, Hanceville, 35077
Telephone:(256) 352-8000
http://www.wallacestate.edu

H Councill Trenholm State Technical College

1225 Air Base Blvd, Montgomery, 36108
Telephone:(334) 420-4200
http://www.trenholmtech.cc.al.us

James H Faulkner State Community College

1900 US Hwy 31 S, Bay Minette, 36507
Telephone:(251) 580-2100
http://www.faulknerstate.edu

John C Calhoun State Community College

6250 U S Highway 31 N, Tanner, 35671
Telephone:(256) 306-2500
http://www.calhoun.edu

Lawson State Community College-Birmingham Campus

3060 Wilson Rd SW, Birmingham, 35221
Telephone:(205) 925-2515
http://www.lawsonstate.edu

University of Alaska Anchorage

3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, 99508
Telephone:(907) 786-1800
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Signers' Hall, Fairbanks, 99775
Telephone:(907) 474-7211
http://www.uaf.edu

Arizona College of Allied Health

4425 W Olive Avenue Suite 300, Glendale, 85302
Telephone:(602) 222-9300
http://www.arizonacollege.edu

Mohave Community College

1971 Jagerson Ave, Kingman, 86409
Telephone:(928) 757-4331
http://www.mohave.edu
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Is a Career in Dental Assisting Right for Me?

Where Does a Dental Assistant Work?

Most dental assistants work in dental offices or dental clinics. Some work in hospitals or in dental schools. Usually dental assistants work during the day on weekdays, with some evening or weekend hours in order to accommodate the patients' schedules. Many dental assistants work a four-day week if they work for a private practice, because many dentists take a day off each week. read more [+]

Working conditions are generally pleasant and clean. There may be times of high pressure when patients are scheduled on an emergency basis, or when a procedure takes more time than anticipated. Since patients are often nervous or apprehensive about going to the dentist, an assistant must be calm and pleasant even during stressful times.

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

A dental assistant helps the dentist in the clinical treatment of patients. The position is very hands-on. A person interested in dental assisting must be a "people person," and enjoy interacting with patients. They must keep patient care a priority, manage their time well, work well with their hands, and accept instruction from the dentist. Basic duties of a dental assistant include:

  • Seating patients
  • Making patients feel comfortable
  • Answering questions about procedures
  • Preparing materials that will be needed by the dentist
  • Assisting the dentist throughout the procedures
  • Exposing and developing dental X-rays
  • Sterilizing instruments after a procedure and preparing them for the next patient.
  • Updating a patient's chart after a procedure

Sometimes the actual assisting is called four-handed dental assisting. This means that the assistant will be using both of their hands as well in helping the dentist to make the procedure being performed as smooth and quick as possible.

What Do Dental Assistants Make?

The salary of a dental assistant varies with location, number of days worked, and number of years of experience. In general the salary range is between $25,000 and $40,000 per year.

Dental assisting is a vital part of the dental health care field. If you are outgoing, efficient, enjoy working with your hands, and can work calmly under pressure, dental assisting might be a good match for you.