Clinical Dental Assistant (Voucher Included) – (VIRTUAL) – Course #118147.900
$3,594.00
| Start Date | Rolling Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Days | Self Paced Learning |
| Total Hours | 300 |
| Duration of Program Access | 12 Months |
Course Description
This comprehensive online dental assisting course will provide you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to become a dental assistant, including every aspect of professional dental assistance. You will also prepare to pass the radiology, infection control, and anatomy and physiology portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations – NELDA or CDA.
Overview
Becoming a dental assistant is a fulfilling and rewarding career path with flexible hours and strong job growth predicted. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7% through 2032, faster than the average for all occupations, with a median annual wage of $46,540. Obtaining your dental assistant certification is your first step towards providing comfort and education for patients—and the online Clinical Dental Assistant course will prepare you to become a productive and successful member of a dental team.
This comprehensive and in-demand online clinical dental assistant program helps equip you for career success—with no previous experience necessary! You will learn essential aspects of professional dental assisting, including invaluable real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants and essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more. You will also explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software.
After completing this dental assistant certification training, you will have the opportunity to apply for a clinical experience, through which you will get real-life clinical assistant experience. You will also be ready to pursue certification as a clinical dental assistant, including the radiology, infection control, and anatomy and physiology portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations – NELDA or CDA. Once you have gained clinical experience and in-person hours, you will be prepared for the general assisting exam and achieve your dental assistant certification.
Clinical Dental Assistant Experience
Students have the option to directly seek employment after the completion of this clinical dental assistant course or take advantage of the opportunity to participate in ed2go's optional clinical experience program. The application for the clinical experience program is within the course. You must be 80% complete within the course before you are eligible to reach out to the clinical experience coordinator for program information. As a Clinical Dental Assistant program student, you have up to 6 months after course completion to apply, but please note clinical experiences are not guaranteed. If you meet all the educational, pre-screening checks, and industry qualifications, including a completed application package, you will be considered for placement based on host site availability. NATIONAL ENTRY LEVEL DENTAL ASSISTANT, NELDA, CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT, CDA, AND DANB are trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc (DANB). This clinical dental assistant course is not reviewed or endorsed by DANB.
Voucher Information
Upon successful completion of this clinical dental assistant course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations. The exams meet 3 of 3 exam requirements for the NELDA certification and 2 of 3 exam requirements for the CDA. If you already have 3,500 hours of clinical experience and wish to pursue the CDA certification, you will need to acquire the General Chairside Assisting exam. The General Chairside Assisting exam is not included in this voucher package. Included vouchers are prepaid access to sit for the exams upon eligibility.
Disclaimer: To qualify for the clinical experience application process, students must successfully complete the online course and ensure their account balances are current (at a minimum). It is important to note that ed2go cannot guarantee placement at any clinical site, and students must take full responsibility for fulfilling their clinical requirements. However, our affiliated partnerships can increase the likelihood of finding a site that matches student needs. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process two weeks before completing courses.
Outline
- The Dental Profession
- Communication Skills
- Ethics for the Dental Assistant
- Basic Dental Sciences
- Dental Anatomy
- Oral Pathology
- Infection Control
- Hazardous Materials
- Caring for Exceptional Patients
- Pharmacology for the Dental Assistant
- Emergency Management
- Oral Health and Nutrition
- The Dental Office
- Dental Instruments
- Introduction to Chairside Assisting
- New Patients and Charting
- Introduction to Dentrix Learning Software (Optional)
- Anesthesia and Sedation
- Preventative Care
- Radiation Health Safety
- Extraoral and Digital Radiology
- Dental Emergency Procedures and Amalgam Restorations
- Composite Procedures and Laboratory Materials
- Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
- Dental Specialties
- Dental Implants and Fixed Prosthetics
- Computerized Restorative Systems and Removable Prosthodontics
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dental Practice Management
- Your Dental Career
Hardware Requirements
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
- The optional Dentrix software requires a PC and cannot be used on a Chromebook or Mac.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word Online
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Optional Dentrix Software Requirements*
- Operating System Windows* 7 Sp1, 8.1, 10
- Memory 8 GB RAM
- CPU 4 cores at 2.4 GHz
- Local Drive Install Space 40 GB total, 5 GB on C: drive
- Monitor 1280x1024
*Students are not required to download the software to complete the course requirements and can follow along with the video tutorials.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
- Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach
- Dental Assisting Instruments and Materials Guide
- Dental Terminology
- Flossing and Brushing Teaching Model
- Dental Assisting Coloring Book (potential 4-6 week shipping delay)
- Dentrix Software (online download) *You are not required to download the software to complete the course requirements and can follow along with the video tutorials.
Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.
Prerequisites
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Course Objectives
What you will learn
- Describe the roles for each member of the dental team and twelve dental specialties
- Define the legal and ethical practice of dental assisting, including HIPAA
- Explain deciduous and permanent dentition along with their functions in dental anatomy and pathology
- Describe the chain of infection, transmission routes, and infection control for the dental practice, along with OSHA regulations
- Summarize the role of the dental assistant in pharmacology, nutrition, and interaction with a variety of patients in normal daily activities and emergency situations
- Describe the use, care, and preparation of dental instruments for patient care
- Outline the necessary components of a patient record prior to dental charting
- Use charting techniques to identify dental restorations and disease to create a treatment plan to prevent future disease progression
- Set up equipment for anesthesia and sedation.
- Describe patient clinical methods and techniques to prevent dental disease
- Identify the process of exposing high-quality radiographs in both traditional and digital formats
- Describe dental materials, their uses in dental treatment, and skills needed to use them efficiently
- Define the dental assistant's role in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry
- Explain the communication and business needs to maintain a dental business office
- State transferable hard and soft skills in order to complete a résumé for a dental assistant position
How you will benefit
- Real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants
- Essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care, and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more
- Explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software
- Obtain your clinical dental assistant certification through the Dental Assisting National Board
Clinical Dental Assistant FAQs
What is the average salary of a clinical dental assistant?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median salary of a clinical dental assistant is currently just over $46,540 per year. This salary can vary widely depending on your experience level, education, and location in the United States.
What is a clinical dental assistant? What does a clinical dental assistant do?
You will have a wide range of important duties as a clinical dental assistant. Your job will vary based on the dental office you work for and the state your work in. Some typical duties include preparing patients for treatment, sterilizing tools, instructing patients on proper dental hygiene, passing instruments to the dentist during procedures, keeping records of treatments, scheduling appointments, processing x-rays, and working with patients on billing and payments. In a few states, dental assistants may be able to polish teeth, apply sealants and fluoride, and give topical anesthetics.
What is the difference between a clinical and administrative dental assistant?
While both roles are important components of the dental staff, an administrative dental assistant focuses more on the office's administrative tasks, such as greeting patients, collecting patient information, filling out medical forms, organizing office records, and other clerical tasks. On the other hand, a clinical dental assistant helps dentists and dental hygienists with treatment procedures, sterilization and disinfection of dental tools, patient charting, taking vital signs, processing quality radiographs (x-rays), and more.
What is a dental assistant vs a dental hygienist?
Dental assistants and dental hygienists are both essential members of the dental care team. Dental hygienists have a larger scope of practice, additional education, and play a more active role in patient care planning and diagnosis. Dental assistants play an invaluable role in supporting both hygienists and dentists. This position has fewer barriers to entry and is ideal for those starting out in their careers. These professionals are vital in assisting with the daily operations of a dental office.
Can I work in a dental office without certification?
Upon successful completion of this course, you will have the skills needed to work in a dental office, but regulations for the practice of dental assisting vary by state. To find out about the laws in your state, consult the Dental Practice Act, available through the Board of Dentistry. Passing the Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology, Radiation Health and Safety, and Infection Control components of the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) Certification and the Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control components of the DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Certification may enable dental assistants to meet requirements for performing certain expanded duties in many states. Depending on state laws and regulations, a dental assistant certified by DANB can often perform a larger set of expanded duties.
All students are encouraged to pursue certification. Completion of this online course will help entry-level students gain employment to fulfill the required work experience. A minimum of 300 hours of work experience accrued over a two month to four-year period as a dental assistant is needed to qualify for the DANB NELDA certification and a minimum of 3,500 hours accrued over a two-to-four-year period before taking the General Chairside (not included) component of the DANB CDA certification. Certified Dental Assistant, National Entry Level Dental Assistant, CDA, NELDA, and DANB are trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc (DANB). This course is not reviewed or endorsed by DANB.
Are clinical dental assistants in demand?
Yes, clinical dental assistants are in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for dental assistants is very good. Employment is projected to grow by 7% through 2032, which is considered much faster than average. Ongoing research linking good dental health with good overall health is driving this growth as demand for preventative services continues to increase.
What kind of hours do clinical dental assistants work?
Most dental assistants work a full-time schedule of 40 hours per week; however, some dental assistants work part-time. Traditionally, a large percentage of the hours you will work is during the day, but you may be asked to work some evenings or weekends, depending on your dental office.
Where do clinical dental assistants work?
Almost all clinical dental assistants work in dental offices under the supervision of dentists, though some may find employment with the government or in physicians' offices. Dental assistants work very closely with dental hygienists. In this position, you will need to wear surgical masks, safety goggles, gloves, and protective clothing to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. You will have the opportunity to sit, but you will also need to be on your feet for large portions of the day.
What qualities should a good clinical dental assistant have?
To be a good clinical dental assistant, you should be detail-oriented and good at working with your hands. You will need to follow precise protocols and work with your hands in tight spaces. You should also be a good communicator as well as a good listener. You will work directly with patients daily, so a calm, friendly demeanor is necessary. It is important to have great organizational skills as well.
Will I be responsible for cleaning teeth as a dental assistant?
No. Dental assistants are not responsible for cleaning a patient's teeth. Only a licensed dentist or dental hygienist is allowed to clean teeth or remove dental calculus.
Does this course prepare you for a certification?
Yes, you will be prepared for the Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations – NELDA or CDA. Once you have gained clinical experience and in-person hours, you will be prepared for the general assisting exam.
When can I start this course?
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
How long does it take to complete this course?
After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.
What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
What kind of support will I receive?
Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.
What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.
Am I guaranteed a job?
ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.