Dental Assistant
A Career as a Dental Assistant
Dental assistants play an important role in the dental office: they make patients feel more at ease in the chair and help the dentist provide relief to those with painful dental conditions. They work alongside dentists, assisting while they examine and treat patients, providing them with proper instruments and materials during a patient examination. In many dental offices, Certified Dental Assistants perform clerical and laboratory duties, as well.
Pima Medical Institute teaches a wide span of job skills that ensure your success in your career as a dental assistant. Our accredited dental assistant program will train you in chairside assisting, radiography, front office and more.
Dental Assistant Program Description
Pima's accredited Dental Assistant program will train you to prepare the patient for treatment, take X-ray examinations; obtain dental records; sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment; prepare tray setups for dental procedures; provide postoperative instruction; educate patients in proper oral health care; prepare materials for making impressions and restorations; and expose radiographs that process dental X-ray film as directed by the dentist.
Dental Assistant Program Outline:
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | ||||
| CSK 100 | Study Skills* | 15 | 1.0 | ||||||
| CAT 150 | Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology* | 55 | 3.5 | ||||||
| CCB 100 | Computer Basics* | 15 | 0.5 | ||||||
| CMF 95 | Math Fundamentals* | 20 | 1.0 | ||||||
| CHS 100 | CPR & First Aid* | 10 | 5 | 0.5 | |||||
| Career Prep Sequence Total | 100 | 20 | 6.5 | ||||||
*Successful completion of CSK 100, CAT 150, CCB 100, CMF 95, and CHS 100 is required either online or on-ground prior to externship. | |||||||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | ||||
| DEN 120 | Dental Anatomy and Pathology | 30 | 2.0 | ||||||
| DEN 100 | Fundamentals of Dentistry | 30 | 15 | 2.5 | |||||
| DEN 105 | Dental Office Administration | 15 | 15 | 1.5 | |||||
| DEN 130 | Dental Pharmacology | 15 | 1.0 | ||||||
| Professional Sequence I Total | 90 | 30 | 7.0 | ||||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | ||||
| DEN 170 | Clinical Dental Procedures | 15 | 75 | 3.5 | |||||
| DEN 175 | Dental Equipment Use and Care | 15 | 15 | 1.5 | |||||
| Professional Sequence II Total | 30 | 90 | 5.0 | ||||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | ||||
| DEN 160 | Dental Radiography | 30 | 70 | 4.0 | |||||
| DEN 165 | Dental Materials | 5 | 15 | 0.5 | |||||
| Professional Sequence III Total | 35 | 85 | 4.5 | ||||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | ||||
| DEN 250 | Externship | 240 | 5.0 | ||||||
| Externship Total | 240 | 5.0 | |||||||
| PROGRAM TOTALS | 255 | 225 | 240 | 28.0 | |||||
Job Outlook for Dental Assistants
Choosing a career as a dental assistant is a smart decision, since entry-level dental professionals are currently in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is expected to be among the fastest growing occupations through 2018, with demand expected to grow by 36 percent.
Almost all jobs for certified dental assistants are in the offices of dentists. Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. About half of dental assistants have a 35- to 40-hour workweek, which may include work on Saturdays or evenings.
Dental Assistant Licensure and Certification
Most states regulate the duties that dental assistants are allowed to perform through licensure, registration or certification. Dental Assistant Certification is an acknowledgment of a dental assistant's qualifications and professional competence and may be an asset when one is seeking employment.
Candidates may qualify to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification examination by working at least 3,500 hours accumulated over a 24-month period or by working at least 3,500 hours of a combination of full and part-time or only part-time work experience earned over a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months as a dental assistant (verified by dentist-employer).
Dental Assistant Program Length
Approximately 7 months
What is the Expanded Duties Dental Assistant program?
At our Denver and Colorado Springs campuses, we offer the Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) program. The EDDA program teaches the expanded duties, techniques, procedures and different applications which will prepare you for advanced dental assistant employment. The coursework involves approximately 12 weeks of training. Call the Denver Campus at (303) 426-1800 or Colorado Springs campus at (719) 482-7462 for more information about earning a certificate from this specialty program.
EDDA Program Outline:
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| ED 01 | Expanded Duties Dental Assistant | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||||
| Expanded Duties Dental Assistant Total | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | |||||
| PROGRAM TOTALS | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | |||||
For more detailed information on PMI's dental assistant program specifics, financial aid and lifetime job placement assistance for graduates, please visit your local campus below.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mesa, Arizona
Renton, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Tucson, Arizona
