Students who are interested in becoming a dental assistant in Mississippi should first complete high school courses in areas such as chemistry, biology, algebra, English and geometry, according to the Mississippi Hospital Association Health Careers Center. They also should take any courses that cover office procedures, typing, computer skills, dental/medical assisting, physical education or health occupations professions education. This background is important to help prepare an aspiring dental assistant to successfully complete a post-secondary training program in the state.
Individuals who want to become Mississippi dental assistants can complete a diploma or associates degree program in this field. Colleges in Mississippi that offer dental assisting training include Antonelli College, which offers an associates degree program at campuses in Jackson and Hattiesburg. Pearl River Community College also offers a year-long program at its Hattiesburg/Forrest County campus, while Hinds Community College offers a similar program in Raymond. To get into these types of programs, students usually must have a high school diploma or GED and might need to submit American College Test scores. Students at Pearl River Community College also go through an interview process. Mississippi students additionally have the option of completing a dental assisting program online through schools such as Penn Foster Career School, where they can complete a program in a few months to two years.
A dental assistant training program prepares students in Mississippi to become certified. Candidates can qualify for certification by graduating from a program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and completing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination. To legally operate dental x-ray equipment in Mississippi, a dental assistant should hold current DANB Certified Dental Assistant certification. They also have other eligibility options, which include successfully completing an approved radiology seminar and exam. Students then must apply to the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners for a radiology permit.
Students who want to become dental assistants in Mississippi take courses such as dental anatomy, dental terminology, pharmacology and anesthesiology. Other course topics include disease transmission, dental emergencies, pathology, preventive dentistry, nutrition and radiology. In addition, programs cover chairside assisting, practice management and dental assisting materials. Students also should learn how to assist in the various dental specialties, such as orthodontics or oral surgery. In addition, programs typically offer students the opportunity to complete a work experience at a local dental office.
Employment of dental assistants is projected to increase 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is fitting in Mississippi, where health care remains one of the top industries, particularly in cities such as Jackson, according to City-data.com. Also, median annual wages of dental assistants in May 2008 were $32,380 nationwide. This is slightly higher than the average experience base pay for Mississippi dental assistants of $27,040 in 2010, according to IHireDental.com.