Dental assistants are licensed professionals who have the ability to take and develop x-rays, create casts of patients' teeth and discuss oral hygiene with patients. In order to become a dental assistant, you will need to attend a licensed training program as a part- or full-time student. During this time, you will take coursework and perform an internship at a clinic. After finishing your coursework, you will then need to take and pass the Certified Dental Assistant exam proffered by the Dental Assisting National Board.
In order to practice as a licensed dental hygienist, you will need to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program with at least an associate degree. Along with the degree, you will need to take clinical exams and perform hundreds of hours of supervised dental hygiene in a clinic. Typically, the program will require full-time enrollment for two years.
According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), the required coursework for any accredited dental hygienist will consist of basic science courses, dental science courses and other general education requirements. The dental science courses may include dental anatomy, radiography and oral pathology.
A bachelor's degree is not necessary in order to become a practicing dental hygienist. However, it will allow for more career opportunities due to the additional coursework and the award of a more advanced diploma. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study and will cost more than an associate degree. The first two years of the bachelor's degree program will consist of courses similar to those offered by an associate degree program.
According to ADHA, the required coursework for a bachelor's degree will consist of advanced-level courses in dental science, courses in nutrition and other coursework similar to that required for a nursing degree, plus additional hours of in-clinic training. Courses may include pharmacology, pain management and preventative dentistry.