Dental Assistants are a vital part of the dental care team, and they help dentists provide dental care to patients, which is a crucial part of physical health and well-being.
A dental assistant school will provide these professionals with the necessary skills to perform their duties in the dental care team.
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Cost Averages
- Certificate/Diploma: $850-$15,000+ annually
- Associates’s Degree: $6,000-$30,000+ annually
What Is A Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants are certified professionals that work under a dentist’s supervision helping in the overall experience of every patient that enters a dentist’s office.
Dental assistants help the oral care team and dentist doing clerical and clinical tasks by preparing equipment, assisting during procedures, taking health histories, and giving instructions to patients on postoperative care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, for dental assistants, the median annual wage was $41,180 per year and $19.80 per hour in May 2020.
What Are The Responsibilities/Duties Of A Dental Assistant?
According to HowMonk.com, the principal duties and responsibilities of a dental assistant include:
- Preparing patients for treatments and procedures.
- Assisting with oral surgeries.
- Sterilizing dental instruments.
- Handing instruments to dentists.
- Taking and processing X-rays.
- Maintaining inventory for dental practices.
- Scheduling patient appointments.
- Working with patients on billing and payments.
- In some states: coronal polishing, sealant, fluoride application, and topical anesthetic application.
What Are The Costs Of Dental Assistant Programs?
The cost of a dental assistant program can vary depending on the length of the program and level of specialization, the type of school if you are an in-state resident or out-state student, and the state the school is located.
Dental assistant school can take 6 to 12 months to earn a diploma and up to two years to earn an associate’s degree.
A certificate or diploma in dental assistant programs can cost $850 to $15,000 or more annually and $6,000 to $30,000 annually for an associate’s degree.
After completing the dental assistant certification, the student must pass several exams, such as General Chairside Assisting, Radiation Health & Safety, and Infection Control exam, to be able to work as a dental assistant.
Extra Expenses
- Registration fees cost about $60.
- After completing the dental assistant certification, the student must pass several exams, such as General Chairside Assisting, Radiation Health & Safety, and Infection Control exam, to work as a dental assistant; the Certified Dental Assistant exam costs about $125.
- Lab fees cost around $560.
- Books and supplies’ average cost are $1,600.
What Are The Best Schools That Offer Dental Assistant Programs?
Dental assistants must complete an accredited dental assistant program to be eligible to sit the Certified Dental Assistant Exam to get licensed; programs must be accredited by the Commission Of Dental Accreditation (CODA).
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there exist about 250 CODA-accredited dental assisting programs in the United States.
The best dental assistant schools and programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) under $30,000 are:
| College | Location | School Type | Program Net Price |
| Atlantic Technical College | Coconut Creek, FL | Public | $11,239 |
| Centura College-Norfolk | Norfolk, VA | Private | $22,669 |
| McCann Technical School | North Adams, MA | Public | $4,889 |
| Charlotte Technical College | Port Charlotte, FL | Public | $4,527 |
| Choffin Career and Technical Center | Youngstown, OH | Public | : $8,025 |
| Erwin Technical College | Tampa, FL | Public | $12,301 |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia, KS | Public | $16,186 |
| Fortis Institute-Wayne | Wayne, NJ | Private | $18,055 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente, CA | Public | $3,896 |
| International Business College-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | Private | $14,672 |
| Lake Area Technical College | Watertown, SD | Public | $12,075 |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples, FL | Public | $5,672 |
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton, FL | Public | $6,600 |
| Mercer County Technical Education Center | Princeton, WV | Public | $5,023 |
| Montgomery Community College | Troy, NC | Public | $12,447 |
| Moore Norman Technology Center | Norman, OK | Public | $4,314 |
| Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | $5,698 |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora, Co | Public | $8,447 |
| Salina Area Technical College | Salina, KS | Public | $13,839 |
| State Technical College of Missouri | Linn, MO | Public | $7,218 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | Public | $6,034 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis | Memphis, TN | Public | $5,777 |
| Traviss Technical College | Lakeland, FL | Public | $7,614 |
| Tulsa Technology Center | Tulsa, OK | Public | $3,300 |
| Western Technology Center | Weatherford, OK | Public | $3,305 |
