Dental Assistant and Dental Hygienist Schools

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.

Source: American Dental Association (ADA)

Request information from one of these recommended schools and start today!

Arizona
The Bryman School* (Phoenix, Tempe) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Technologist in Radiology, Surgical Technologist, Massage Therapy

California
Academy of Professional Careers* (Indio, La Mesa, San Marcos) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Optical Technician, Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant
Everest College* (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
Clarita Career College (Canyon Country, Lancaster) - Medical Assistant, Administrative Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Heald College* (Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Health Information Technology
High-Tech Institute (Sacramento) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Keller Graduate School of Management* (Pomona, Irvine, Long Beach, Pomona, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Downtown, West Hills) - Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management
Kaplan College* (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
San Joaquin Valley College* (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
Santa Barbara Business College* (Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura) - Medical Assisting, Medical/Dental Office Systems, Pharmacy Technician
UEI - United Education Institute (Ontario, Chula Vista, El Monte, Van Nuys, Huntington Park, San Bernardino, San Diego) - Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing & Coding
West Coast College(Victorville) - Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapist

Connecticut
Porter and Chester Institute* (Enfield, Stratford, Watertown, Weathersfield) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting

Florida
Angley College (DeLand) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Dental Assisting, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Therapeutic Massage
ATI College of Health (Miami) - Dental Assisting, Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician, Medical Assisting Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist
Central Florida Institute* (Orlando, Tampa Bay) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant/Basic X-ray, Noninvasive Cardio Technician, Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist - ECHO, Surgical Technologist - Operating Room Scrub
Florida Education Center (Lauderhill) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
High-Tech Institute (Orlando) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, X-ray Technician
Sanford-Brown Institute* (Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Jacksonville) - Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technology, Advanced Massage Therapy

Georgia
ACT: Advanced Career Training (Atlanta, Riverdale) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding
Everest Institute* (Norcross) - Dental Assisting

Hawaii
Heald College (Honolulu) - Dental Assisting, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration

Idaho
Academy of Professional Careers (Boise) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Holistic Health Practitioner, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Illinois
Everest College (Burr Ridge, Chicago) - Dental Assisting
Professional Careers Institute (Indianapolis) - Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting/Administration, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy/Medical Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Assisting/Administration, Medical/Dental Administration

Indiana
Everest College (Merrillville) - Dental Assisting

Kentucky
ATA Career Education (Louisville) - Dental Assisting, Medical Coding

Maryland
Kaplan College* (Frederick, Hagerstown) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing/Coding, Medical Transcriptionist, Medical Receptionist, Phlebotomist, Medical Secretary

Massachusetts
Everest Institute* (Brighton) - Dental Assisting, Masage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Michigan
Everest Institute* (Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo) - Dental Assisting

Minnesota
Sanford-Brown College* (Fenton, St. Charles, Hazelwood) - Healthcare Administration, Respiratory Therapy, Radiography, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing, Nursing, Surgical Technology, Health Information Technology, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Everest College (Springfield) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcription

Missouri
Missouri College (St. Louis) - Dental Office Administration, Dental Assistant
Allied College (Fenton, Maryland Heights) - Dental Assistant
Everest College (Springfield) - Dental Assistant
Vatterott College (Springfield) - Dental Assistant

Nebraska
Kaplan University* (Lincoln, Omaha) - Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy
Vatterott College (Omaha) - Practical Nursing, Advanced Medical Assistant, Alcohol/Drug Abuse Counselor, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Veterinay Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Office Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Psychiatric Assistant, Veterinary Technician

Nevada
High-Tech Institute (Las Vegas) - Dental Assistant

Ohio
Akron Institute (Cuyahoga Falls) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Administrator
Remington College* (Cleveland, Cleveland West) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance and Coding, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technician

Oregon
Anthem College (Beaverton) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist

Pennsylvania
CHI Institute* (Broomall, Southampton) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technician
Sanford-Brown Institute (Formerly Ultrasound Diagnostic School) (Philadelphia) - Medical Assistant, Coding & Billing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Non-Invasive Cardiovascular & Surgical Technology , Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy

Tennessee
High-Tech Institute (Nashville) - Dental Assisting
Remington College* (Memphis, Nashville) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting

Texas
Everest Institute (Austin, Greenspoint) - Dental Assisting
Milan Institute (Amarillo) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician
Academy of Healthcare Professions* (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
ATI Career Training Center* (Dallas, Hurst) - Dental Assisting, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Respiratory Therapy Technology
Career Centers of Texas* (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
High-Tech Institute (Irving) - Dental Assisting
Kaplan Career Institute (San Antonio) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants (McAllen) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Southeastern Career Institute* (Dallas, Midland) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician
Texas Careers* (Beaumont, Laredo, Lubbock, San Antonio) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Patient Care Assistant Technician, Nurse Aide, Vocational Nursing

Utah
Eagle Gate College* (Salt Lake City, Layton, Murray) - Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting, Office Management
Provo College (Provo) - Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Therapeutic Massage Technology

Virginia
ACT College* (Alexandria, Manassas) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician
Everest Institute* (Chesepeake) - Dental Assisting

Washington
Everest College (Everett, Tacoma, Bremerton, Renton) - Dental Assisting

Canada
Everest College* - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Retail Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Assistant, Dental Assisting

• 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

*All programs not available at all locations

See also:
Medical Administration,Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Transcription, Medical Assistant Training Schools