Dental assistants and dental hygienists are valuable members of the dental care team, helping dentists in a variety of tasks to increase their efficiency in the delivery of quality oral health care. Both assistants and hygienists are skilled in basic instrument set-up and the proper use of dental tools and materials, including taking and processing x-rays, providing instruction to patients, and keeping detailed and accurate records of patient care.
Job Description: Dental Assistants are often the first professionals the patients see in the dental office, and their duties are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental clinic. They may provide care in general dentistry or in specialties such as periodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, or oral surgery. Their duties may include conducting patient interviews, making impressions, charting histories, assisting during minor surgeries and laboratory procedures, preparing and sterilizing dental equipment and instruments, reception, insurance billing, recordkeeping, and general office procedures. Her/his expertise in the operation and maintenance of dental equipment is essential in the modern dental office.
Dental hygienists perform slightly more advanced tasks than those of the dental assistant. Hygienists examine patients' teeth and gums to assess oral health conditions and screen for oral cancer, they clean patients' teeth and apply preventive materials like sealants or fluorides, and they provide many educational services, instructing patients about good oral hygiene and preventative dental care. They also work alongside dentists during treatment and surgeries.
Both dental assistants and hygienists enjoy flexible schedules, with full-time and part-time positions available, as well as evening and weekend shifts. Preventative oral health care has led to an increased demand for dental services, which is opening up more job opportunities for hygienists and assistants, making it an exciting and stable field to go into. (ADA) Request free degree information from any of the featured schools below.
| California Schools |
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(Indio, La Mesa, San Marcos) - Medical Assisting,
Pharmacy Technician, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage
Therapy, Optical Technician, Administrative Medical/Dental
Assistant |
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(Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Los Angeles, Ontario, Reseda, San Bernadino, San Francisco, San Jose) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant,
Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding,
Pharmacy Technician, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomist,
Medical Office Assistant, Medical Office Management, X-Ray
Technician, Surgical Technologist, Medical Clinical Assistant |
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(Canyon Country, Lancaster) - Medical Assistant,
Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant,
Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy |
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(Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton) - Dental Assisting,
Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Health
Information Technology |
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(Sacramento) - Medical Assistant,
Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical
Technologist, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy |
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(Pomona, Irvine, Long
Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San
Diego, San
Francisco Downtown, West
Hills) - Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management |
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(Anaheim, Bakersfield, Carson, San Diego - East County, Fresno, Irwindale, Los Angeles, Modesto, Vista - North County, North Hollywood, Palm Springs, Pomona, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, Stockton) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Coding/Billing,
Nursing, Healthcare & Rehab Technician, X-Ray Tech,
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound, Radiologic Technology,
Pharmacy Tech, Respiratory Therapy, Massage Therapy and
more |
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(Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cucamonga, Visalia) - Clinical and Administrative
Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health Care Insurance
Specialist, Pharmacy Technology, Surgical Technology, Veterinary
Technology, Health Care Administration, Respiratory Care
Practice |
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(Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura) - Medical Assisting,
Medical/Dental Office Systems, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Ontario, Chula Vista, El Monte, Van Nuys, Huntington Park, San Bernardino, San Diego) - Medical Assistant,
Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing &
Coding |
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(Victorville) - Medical Assistant,
Dental Assistant, Massage Therapist |
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| Florida Schools |
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(DeLand) - Medical Assisting,
Medical Office Administration, Dental Assisting, Nursing
Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician,
Therapeutic Massage |
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(Miami) - Dental Assisting,
Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician, Medical Assisting Technician,
Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist |
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(Orlando, Tampa Bay) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant/Basic X-ray, Noninvasive Cardio Technician,
Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist - ECHO, Surgical Technologist
- Operating Room Scrub |
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(Lauderhill) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Orlando) - Dental Assistant,
Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing &
Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, X-ray
Technician |
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(Tampa, Ft
Lauderdale, Jacksonville)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Billing and Coding
Specialist, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Surgical
Technology, Advanced Massage Therapy |
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| Texas Schools |
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(Austin, Greenspoint) - Dental Assisting |
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(Amarillo) - Administrative
Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting,
Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Austin, Houston North Loop, Houston Southwest) - Dental
Assistant, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Medical
Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Phlebotomy
Technician, Dental Assistant, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound,
Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Massage Therapy,
Surgical Technologist |
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(Dallas, Hurst) - Dental Assisting,
Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Respiratory Therapy
Technology |
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(Brownsville, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth) - Medical Assistant,
Medical Office Specialist, Dental Assistant, Insurance Processor,
Patient Care Assistant Technician, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical,
Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician, Medical Office
Specialist, Radiologic Technologist |
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(Irving) - Dental Assisting |
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(San Antonio) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist,
Pharmacy Technician |
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| San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants |
(McAllen) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist,
Pharmacy Technician |
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| Southeastern Career Institute* |
(Dallas, Midland) - Dental Assistant,
Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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| Texas Careers* |
(Beaumont, Laredo, Lubbock, San Antonio) - Dental Assisting,
Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Patient Care
Assistant Technician, Nurse Aide, Vocational Nursing |
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| Canada Schools |
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(Ontario:
Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton City Centre, Hamilton Mountain, London, Mississauga, Ottawa West (Nepean), Newmarket, North York, Ottawa East, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto Central, Toronto College Park, Windsor
Quebec: Laval, Montreal, Quebec City
Nova
Scotia: Halifax
Alberta: Calgary City Centre, Calgary North, Edmonton City Centre
British
Columbia: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver
Manitoba: Winnipeg )
Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Retail Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Assistant, Dental Assisting |
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