Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform other clinical tasks. Dental assistants sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain patients' dental records. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients’ mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. They also instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care.

Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x-rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment. Some States are expanding dental assistants' duties to include tasks such as coronal polishing and restorative dentistry functions for those assistants that meet specific training and experience requirements.

Dental assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Those with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials.

Dental Assistant Education & Training
It takes a relatively short period of time to become a dental assistant. Formal education and training usually takes nine to eleven months, resulting in a certificate or diploma. Two-year programs offered in community and junior colleges lead to an associate degree. For improved career opportunities, it is recommended that individuals pursue a dental assisting program approved by CODA (the Commission on Dental Accreditation). All dental assisting programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and some require science or computer-related courses for admission.

Dental Assistant Certification
The industry higly recommends dental assistants to become nationally certified by taking the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam. The CDA is required or recognized in more than 37 States. Dental assistants are eligible to take the CDA examination if they have completed a dental assisting program accredited by CODA. Individuals who have been trained on the job or have graduated from non-accredited programs are eligible to take the national certification examination after they have completed two years of full-time work experience as dental assistants. Most States regulate the duties that dental assistants are allowed to perform. Many States have licensure or registration requirements, so individuals should contact the appropriate State board for details.

Dental Assistant Career Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to grow 36% from 2008 to 2018, so job prospects are excellent. In fact, dental assisting will be one of the fast growing occupations for that time period.

Dental Assistant Salary
Median annual wages of dental assistants were $32,380 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,980 and $38,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,150. Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), 86 percent of Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) reported receiving paid vacation from their employers, and more than half of CDAs received health benefits.

This site only offers programs that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA).

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant
• Expanded Duty Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant Certificate, Diploma, Associate of Applied Science

• Dental Assistant Specialist

• Expanded Function Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant

• Dental Assistant Diploma, Associate of Science