Dental Assistant Programs

There are a few ways to become a dental assistant depending on what State you are practicing in. States vary in their requirements for license and registration so it is always best to check with the State board to verify you have met their criteria. Certified dental assistants make higher incomes in general than those who are not certified. In addition, certified dental assistants can perform more job functions than non-certified individuals due to the training that they have received. In the paragraphs following, is an outline of the training and testing required to become a certified dental assistant.

First, if you are still in high school and looking at this career path, you will want to take as many biology, chemistry, and health related courses as possible. Following high school, there are several training programs in various community colleges and vocational-technical schools which offer dental assisting training. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) has a list of schools that are accredited in the various states. These programs take 1 to 2 years to complete and require training in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. Upon completion of one of these programs, you will be allowed to sit for the certification test. In lieu of the CODA accredited training program, you may qualify to take the exam if you have 2 years of full-time or 4 years of part-time dental assisting experience.

Regardless of whether you work to gain experience or complete a dental assistant program, you will want to study for the exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). This credential is available through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). They offer practice material and blueprints to study for the exam. There are three major topics covered in the exam including: General Chairside Assisting, Radiation Health and Safety, and Infection Control.

Once you pass this exam, you can become a CDA and will be able to write that credential after your name. This CDA credential along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification will allow you to be employable in most states. If you choose to work in a more specialized role, other certification exams may be required.

After becoming a CDA and registering with the State where you practice, you will want to keep up this credential by completing continuing education courses and paying renewal fees required by DANB. Some dental assistants are successful at getting their employer to pay the costs associated with this credential.

Dental assistants perform many duties such as caring for patients, laboratory duties and office work. Most commonly dental assistants are there to make the patient comfortable before a dental procedure is done and they lay out the instruments for each patient. They are the ones that sit patients in the chair, put the dental bib on patients, and set up the station with the tools and the patients’ dental records. During an actual procedure dental assistance work alongside the dentists and perform tasks such as handing dentists instruments as well as remove saliva or cement from the patient’s mouth, give the patient water etc.

Dental assistants trained to do laboratory duties sometimes are responsible for making casts of teeth for impressions, make temporary crowns etc. They are the main part of the preparation process of any dental procedure. Dental assistants even do dental x-rays as well as processing dental x-rays. Some dental assistants do most of their work in the office doing tasks such as scheduling appointments, send bills, receive payments, confirm appointments, and order dental supplies. Overall the job has many duties and dental assistants can either do most of their work in the lab, assisting the dentists directly, or doing office work.

Many people are interested in joining this career field but there is training and education needed in order to be a dental assistant. Students in high school that are interested in becoming a dental assistant should take and do well in health, biology, chemistry and service programs such as working in the counseling office. After high school, dental assistant programs are available at local colleges and/or trade schools. These programs take about 9 months to a year and a certificate is earned. Job training is also included in many of these programs. In order to take part in dental assistant training a high school diploma or GED is needed.

During on the job training students learn how to perform the duties and tasks from a dentist office environment. Students learn very important lessons such as dental terminology, what to expect in the office and they become more familiar with the instruments. Job training also includes learning how to deal with patients and perform regular tasks. After training is complete certification is earned and students can find employment as a dental assistant. Usually dentist are looking for a reliable well trained individual that is responsible, does well with the patients and knows what they are doing.

If you are searching for a career or job that provides rewards, challenges, and allows you to work with people, you may want to consider a career as a dental assistant. This requires you to enroll in a dental assistant program.

CODA dental assistant programs take about one year to complete and result in certification as a dental assistant. Community and junior colleges may also offer dental assistant programs. These are two-year programs that result in an associate degree. The arrival of online schooling and online programs has also resulted in online dental assistant training.

All programs offer clinical and on-the-job training. This is the type of training that teaches you how to:

• Perform daily duties
• Interact with patients
• Run the office with the help of the dentist and office manager

In addition, clinical training is where you will learn most of your dental terminology, as well as how to use office equipment, where files are located, how to sterilize instruments, and procedures you will help the dentist perform. Although the programs offer training on these types of things, each dentist runs his or her office differently. Clinical training and on-the-job training teach you all the things classroom training does not cover.

The dental assistant education will teach you the things you need to know in order to become state certified. Requirements vary state-to-state, so it is best if you check with your state while you are. Some states allow you to do anything the dentist asks, while other states require you to have radiology training before you can take an x-ray of a patient.

Over 37 states recognize the Certified Dental Assistant, CDA, license. This license is issued by the Dental Assisting National Board. DANB. In order to gain a DANB license, dental assistants must:

• Complete a CODA recognized dental assistant training program
• Be certified and current on CPR
• Have four years of experience working part-time as a dental assistant or two years experience working full-time as a dental assistant

Things you will learn while undertaking such a program, include:

• How to assist the dentist in a variety of procedures
• How to take and develop x-rays
• How to ask a patient for his or her medical history
• How to take a patient’s blood pressure and pulse
• How to calm an anxious patient
• How to sterilize equipment that will be used
• How to give patients follow-up instructions after a procedure
• How to teach a patient good oral hygiene and why it is important
• How to take cast impressions and molds of a patient’s mouth

Once a license is granted by DANB, dental assistants are required to attend a dental assistant continuing education class each year to keep the license current.
Once you graduate, you should have no trouble finding a job. Licensed dental assistants are in high demand. For additional information on how you can become a dental assistant, take a look through this website. You can also get more information by contacting your local dentist.