Dental Assistant Schools

Overview

Dental health is important to all of us. Dentists, alone, cannot handle the workload of treating, cleaning, and maintaining the teeth of every consulting patient. So, they need the help of dental assistants. For a successful dental practitioner, dental assistants are a necessity. They assist the dentists by providing non-technical services such as getting the patient ready for treatment, cleaning and sterilization of equipments, and helping the dentist during the procedure.

Some also work in laboratories making teeth casts, making temporary teeth crowns, and polishing, and maintaining removable dental appliances. Physicians' offices also employ dental assistants to take care of patient records, keep track of appointments, and maintain bill details. Depending on the state, a dental assistant is required to obtain a license and register for practicing with a dentist.

Benefits

The working hours of a dental assistant typically depends on the dentist who employs them. As dentists normally work four to five days a week, and the same schedule applies to dental assistants too. As the work hours are flexible, most dental assistants work with more than one dentist and thus, increase their earning potential. With experience, a dental assistant can become an office manager, a sales representative for dental products, and even an instructor. Some dental assistants enroll themselves in programs to become a dental hygienist. On an average, a dental assistant is expected to earn $31,540 per annum.

Costs

The cost for a dental assistantship program differs based on the school and the duration of the course. Online course in dental assistantship costs $898 and a full time course at a university will range from $5,500 to $7,879. The cost may vary based on the colleges and the type of course you choose.

Schools

Both online and on-campus courses are available for students aspiring to become dental assistants. Though a certification is not necessary for becoming a dental assistant, you can get better career prospects if you are a certified dental assistant. Santa Rosa Junior College, Texas State Technical College, Center for Technology, Penn Foster Career School, and University of the Fraser Valley are some schools that offer a course in dental assistantship. Successful completion of the Certified Dental Assistant exam ensures that a dental assistant can practice anywhere. Furthermore, a dental assistant can also specialize in orthodontics.

Testing & Preparation

All schools that offer dental assistantship programs insist that the students possess good grades in biology, chemistry, and English during high school. The candidate's eligibility for the program is also assessed by conducting interviews in some schools.

Financial Aid

The schools offering dental assistant courses do not provide any financial aid to the students. Scholarships available to students pursuing dental assistantship programs are listed in All Allied Health Schools. Students can also avail of Pell Grants and federal Stafford loans to fund their courses.