What You Need To Know When Considering Dental Assistant Education
Dental assistant education can begin only after successfully graduating from High School or after acquiring equivalent qualifications. If you are seriously interested in pursuing a career as a dental assistant it is advisable to make early preparations starting from selecting the right subjects while in high school which are biology, chemistry, health and office practices etc. With a science background in high school education, it is possible to enroll for on of the dental assistant programs conducted by an institution accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation under the American Dental Association (ADA). Usually a 1 year course leads to a certificate or diploma. For those who wish to go in for advance courses, they can seek admission in any community or junior college that offers a two year program in dental assistance, leading to an associate degree. There are a number of lesser valued 4 to 6 month programs that are conducted by many vocational schools. However, they may not be acceptable credentials for all dental assisting job openings many of which only accept certifications accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation. A typical dental assisting program leading to certification as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) covers three semesters of instructions. During those three semesters a student has to complete about 42 credit hours of course work that include dental assisting procedure courses, dental x-rays, dental materials, dental nutrition, office procedures, office emergencies, pharmacology and head and neck anatomy. During the last semester of the program, students are required to complete a clinical rotation in two or three dental offices. The curriculum for different semesters may be something similar to what is given below: Semester I
Semester II
Semester III
A good educational institution offering dental assistant training will always have the necessary infrastructure in place to impart the best education to its students. These facilities may consist of computer equipped dental assisting laboratories, dental operatories, high class dental materials labs, x-ray rooms, sterilization rooms, lecture areas and class rooms. When passing out from such institutions, the students get their Certificate in Radiology, Infection Control and Jurisprudence along with CDA certification. You can opt for higher education in your pursuit of a career in dental assisting. For this you need to enroll for an associate degree program offered only through accredited US community and junior colleges and universities and which take around two years to complete. On graduating, you are awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in dental assistance. As an Associate in Dental Assisting, you are equipped with higher knowledge and skills as compared to certificate/holders and will be able to assist the dentist/dental surgeon in advanced dentistry functions also like sterilization, polishing, fluoride applications, preparing acrylic crowns and bridges, radiography certification and charting.
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