Dental Assisting Program

Does the idea of working in the dental field put a smile on your face?  Are you looking for a rewarding career that is in demand?  Dental Assisting is a growing field; and becoming a Dental Assistant is a fulfilling challenge. If you enjoy working one on one with patients, a dental career may be for you!

Dental Assistants attend to patients by assisting the dentist during procedures such as fillings, crowns, veneers and teeth whitening. In addition, Dental Assistants expose and develop x-rays, fabricate custom temporaries, and perform various lab duties.  They also provide the patient with oral healthcare and postoperative instructions when needed.

The Dental Assistant is also involved in the efficient operation of the dental practice.  Treatment planning, maintaining inventory and insurance billing are some of the additional duties performed by the Assistant in the office.

Arizona College offers a program designed to provide the education and experience to become a Dental Assistant.  We provide hands-on Dental Assisting training by offering accelerated morning and evening classes to help you make your dream a reality.  We invite you to visit our campus to learn more about us and our program.  Contact Arizona College today to start on the path to fulfilling your dream of receiving your diploma in Dental Assisting.  Change Lives, Choose Arizona College!

Responsibilities

Most Dental Assistants work in an operatory setting.  Responsibilities typically include:
• Providing excellent patient relations
• Preparing patient for treatment
• Chair-side assisting (four-handed dentistry)
• Sterilization, preparation and organization of instruments
• Front Office procedures including insurance verification and treatment planning

Bureau of Labor Statistics Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Dental Assistants held approximately 294,000 jobs as of May, 2010.  The BLS projects Dental Assistant employment to grow faster than average, increasing by 36% from 2008 to 2018 and totaling 400,900 jobs in 2018.  For more information about Dental Assisting careers, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.  The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code is 31-9091.

Arizona College Program Details

The Dental Assisting program is three quarters.  Each quarter is ten weeks divided into two five week sessions.  After the on-campus portion of the program, each student completes an off-campus 7-8 week (300 hour) clinical externship in the last 2 sessions of the program.  Including the externship, the entire program requires approximately thirty-eight weeks.

Certification Information

In the state of Arizona, certification is required to expose x-rays on patients.  After students have successfully completed the radiology course and lab, they may take the Radiation Health and Safety Exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).  When passed, the RHS credential will allow students, externs, and /or graduates to legally expose radiographs in the state of Arizona.  Certification enhances the résumé and gives students an advantage by making them more marketable in their future careers as Dental Assistants.