Dental Assistant

How do you become a Dental Assistant? There are basically three types of dental assistant programs:

1. One-year programs offered by vocational & technical institutes that award a certificate or diploma after successful completion. Most of dental assisting programs accredited by the American Dental Association’ s Commission on Dental accreditation take about one year of full time study to complete.

Dental Assistant Training

2_Two-year programs offer a degree of Associate in Arts(A.A.) or Associate in Applied Science(A.A.S). These two-year programs are offered by community and junior colleges.

3. There are also non accredited dental assistant courses offered by private vocational schools. Some schools offer their programs on a part-time basis for those who are working.

Courses offered in the dental assistant schools include dental anatomy, radiography, nutrition, bacteriology, laboratory procedures. Programs include both classrooms and lab work and preclinical instruction in dental assisting skills. Students may work in dental schools, clinics, or in some cases in dental offices as part of their training.