Dental Assisting

Dental Assisting combines administrative support with providing assistance to dentists and hygienists during dental procedures.

The responsibilities of a Dental Assistant are diverse and challenging - requiring both technical and interpersonal skills. Working in classrooms and supervised clinical settings, students are introduced to a range of dental procedures and specialities, learning the basics of dental science, nutrition and prevention, and head and neck anatomy. Students learn techniques related to infection control, instrument identification and transfer, taking patient X-Rays, and communicating with patients. Training also covers administrative tasks such as inventory control, appointment scheduling, office management and patient charts. Safety, communication skills and professionalism are emphasized throughout the curriculum.

Some schools offer State-Approved (Chapter-74) programs in Dental Assisting. These programs provide all of the training required to begin entry-level work in the field. Other schools may offer a more condensed version of this training, which has been designed at the local level. This is known as Non-Chapter 74 or "Perkins-Only." Learn more about the difference between State-Approved and Local CTE programs.