Dental Assistant Certification

Dental Assistant Certificate: Program Summary

Dental assisting certificate programs offer instruction in the clinical and administrative aspects of the dental business. Students are prepared to aid dentists by managing patient information, preparing instruments and assisting with dental procedures.

Essential Information

Dental assistant certificate programs can educate students about administrative and clinical aspects of a dental business while also teaching them basic patient care skills. In programs that span approximately one year, students have the opportunity to gain a practical understanding of job duties through hands-on practice in disinfecting instruments, obtaining dental records, interacting with patients and working alongside dentists during procedures. A dental assistant's job duties and responsibilities can vary greatly, depending on the work setting and state of employment.

Dental Assistant Certificate Program

Admission to a certificate program in dental assisting typically requires a high school diploma or the equivalent. Students also might be required to hold CPR certification and meet medical and physical standards set by the school. Many dental assistant certificate programs incorporate clinical practice or internships into their curricula. Students also might gain experience in chair-side support, pain management and patient intake, in addition to learning about technological advances in the field. Generally, a dental assistant curriculum contains courses such as:

Dental radiology

Oral anatomy and physiology

Dental materials

Infection control

Laboratory procedures

Dental office management and administration