Dental Assisting Colleges and Careers Overview

Want to be a respected part of the dental field but concerned that a full-time degree is too time consuming? Whether you are just starting out or seeking a career change, dental assisting may be a good choice. You can enter the workforce quickly and affordably through a certificate program, find an associate degree program that fits your schedule, or choose from many dental assisting programs offered online.

Dental assistant job responsibilities may include the following:

• Taking and processing x-rays
• Obtain patient dental records
• Pass instruments to the dentist during procedures
• Sterilize instruments and equipment
• Conducting lab work
• Making casts for restorations
• Preparing temporary crowns
• Placing rubber dams on teeth
• Removing sutures
• Applying topical anesthetics and cavity-preventive agents
• Removing excess cement from filling procedures

Dental assisting professionals spend most work time near the dental chair, where they must wear protective gear to prevent infection and reduce risks from x-rays.

Dental assistants work in the following places:

Although many dental assistants learn on the job, more employers seek graduates of dental assistant training programs offered by technical institutes or community colleges:

• Programs typically include classroom and laboratory instruction as well as practical experience gained through internships.
   
• Most technical programs take one year or less to complete and culminate in a certificate or diploma.
   
• Two-year dental assisting programs offered by community colleges lead to an associate's degree.
   
• While some schools offer accelerated four- to six-month programs, these are not accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Most states regulate duties that dental assistants perform through licensure or registration, which may require passing an examination or taking a state-approved course. Further education and testing is required by some states to perform x-rays. Information on state requirements is available from the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) website or from a program counselor.

The DANB offers a certification examination for graduates of an ADA-accredited program or dental assistants who have worked two years full time or four years part time. This dental assisting certification is recognized or required in the majority of states.