Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, laboratory and office duties. They work under the close supervision of a dentist. Typical tasks include assisting during treatment procedures, taking and developing dental x-rays, teaching patients about oral hygiene, scheduling appointments and taking impressions of patients' teeth. According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants enjoy a variety of tasks, a flexible work schedule, clean working conditions and personal satisfaction with patient interaction.
The curriculum of a dental assistant course is both theoretical and practical. Students learn about procedures such as tooth extraction, surgery and dental hygiene. Modules covered include the fundamentals of dental assisting, science of dentistry, patient management, dental emergencies and infection control. Students are also required to work in a dental practice before they can graduate. This gives them hands-on experience working in a dental environment.
There are no formal education requirements for dental assistants in most states, but there are some qualifications you can get to increase your chances of employment. Most dental assistant programs are available at community and junior colleges, trade schools and technical institutes. Students who take a one-year dental assistant course will graduate with a certificate or diploma. Most courses are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). This type of qualification is ideal for someone entering the profession at the entry level. A number of private vocational schools offer a shorter four- to six-month course, but these are not CODA-accredited. An associate degree is offered at community and junior colleges. This course runs for two years and is CODA-accredited. Although a dental assistant diploma does not take as long to earn and gets you into a job quicker, an associate degree is beneficial for long-term career advancement.
Dental assistant courses are available across the U.S. Phoenix College offers a dental assisting certificate and an associate degree program. The certificate program can be completed full-time in two semesters and part-time in four semesters. Modules include pharmacology, clinical dental assisting and dental issues seminar. The associate degree covers all of the modules in the certificate program as well as specialty modules, such as pediatric, periodontal and orthodontic clinical practice. Both programs have a combination of classroom teaching and practical labwork. Kaplan College's Indianapolis campus offers a dental assistant diploma. Classes are offered in the mornings and afternoons so students can work them around their schedules. Before graduation, students must complete an externship at a general dental office, clinic or hospital.