You do not have to attend school for eight years before working in a dental office.
You can take steps toward your goal of becoming a dentist as an assistant if you want.
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Licensing Requirements To Become a DA In Indiana
The Indiana State Department of Health and the Dental Careers Foundation both say that dental assistants must earn an L.R.C. (Limited Radiography License) if they wish to add X-ray taking to their skill set.
The Department of Health hosts the Medical Radiology Services Program to help students interested in performing X-rays achieve their DA career goals.
A dental assistant must obtain a limited dental radiographic license from the Indiana State Department of Health/Division of Medical Radiology Services.
This requires separate training and exam preparation than for general dental assisting, and some Indiana colleges have both.
The Indiana State Government, as well as the CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association), explain what a DA can do before and after a year of training.
This includes several hours of instruction concerning preparing for and administering fluoride treatments.
Ethics and infection control (i.e. sterilization and sanitation) also come into play to achieve certifications.
Indiana Dental Assistant students also will have to take a certification exam.
They can register to take either the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam or the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.
Additional requirements may apply, which coincide with the certification level and experience of each dental assistant.
5 Indiana Dental Assistant Schools
1. Caris College Patient Career Center
At Caris, you have the chance to find work as a dental assistant as soon as possible, and you could complete your initial certification training in about ten months.
Your certificate coursework will include 300 hours of hands-life experience in a dental office that serves real patients.
During your training, you will learn how to take x-rays, perform recordkeeping duties, and schedule appointments.
In addition, you will know how to provide both compassion and practical assistance when preparing patients for hygiene, extractions, restoration, or fillings and crowns.
You could pursue continued training to become an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA).
This is the level at which you would more likely become more involved in temporary crowns and fixes.
Your role would carry on with a dentist’s supervision.
2. Ross Medical Education Center
At Ross, you will provide direct patient care, which includes keeping patients calm before and during procedures or examinations.
Your training will also include how to perform administrative tasks.
In addition, you can customize your curriculum to learn both entry-level and EDDA tasks.
Skills you will develop throughout this coursework include Ex-ray processing, anesthesia preparation, and vital signs readings.
Taking impressions, creating and filling temporary crowns, and instrument sterilization will also become second nature to you.
This school gives you the chance to decide how far you want to go in your dental career.
3. South Bend Dental Assistant School
Dental Assistant program students at South Bend start out learning important dental terminology.
They also practice preparing a new patient chart, filing out medical record forms, and scheduling appointments.
Your coursework will include both online classes and in-person labs.
This DA program only takes 9 weeks to complete, so you could start working right away.
Additional classes may be required if you want to achieve an EDDA or perform X-rays.
However, South Bend at least gets you started and places you in an environment of success working for dentists.
4. Indiana University Northwest
The Indiana University Northwest Dental Assisting Program covers everything from dental anatomy to office paperwork and taking phone calls.
You will learn how to best assist dentists in providing quality oral healthcare to patients.
Depending on your desired certification level, you will also train in taking X-rays.
In addition, you will become equipped with knowledge and experience about how to prepare patients for dental procedures.
Knowing what to do with difficult patients, that’s also an important lesson you will learn, especially during the hands-on training portion.
Your instructors will also show you the correct way to sterilize and disinfect dental instruments and equipment.
After this training, assisting patients with dental procedures and educating patients on proper oral hygiene becomes second nature.
You will be ready in about a year, during which time you will apply for DA jobs as soon as possible.
You could earn a bachelor’s degree at Indiana University Northwest too.
5. Ivy Tech Community College
The Ivy Tech Community College dental assistant student would learn how to maintain dental equipment, take and develop dental x-rays, keep patients calm during teeth cleanings or restorative work, and give oral hygiene instructions to patients.
You will receive the understanding required to pass the DANB exam before becoming certified as a DA the first time.
Once you start, you might also want to explore the world of dental radiology, which isn’t mandatory.
All DA students, however, will take dental ethics classes that also teach you best patient practices.
Infection control also remains a priority, and you will learn about different dental materials.
Dental Assistant Schools in Indiana – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Indiana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Caris College Patient Career Center | 2780 Jefferson Centre Way #102, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
| Ross Medical Education Center | 4122 Lima Rd A - 5, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 |
| South Bend Dental Assistant School | 17490 IN-23, South Bend, IN 46635 |
| Indiana University Northwest | 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 50 Walnut St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 |
Salary
In April 2022, a calculations update determined the average Dental Assistant’s annual salary in Indiana to be $39,871.
The yearly income for Dental Assistants in Indiana normally ranges from $35,362 to $44,240.
Before you receive your entry-level DA certificate, you might start out at about $5,000-$10,000 less than this.
If you continue to update your certifications and add new skills to your repertoire, you could make $48,218.
Cities, where you can search for Indiana DA jobs besides Gary or Indianapolis, include Bourbon, Carmel or Elkhart, and Angola.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dental Assistants in Indiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $39,707 |
| Fort Wayne | $38,071 |
| Evansville | $38,572 |
| South Bend | $38,479 |
| Gary | $41,083 |
| Hammond | $41,083 |
| Bloomington | $37,591 |
| Muncie | $37,642 |
| Anderson | $37,789 |
| Terre Haute | $37,467 |
Regional Salary in Indiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | 150 | $45,340 | $21.8 | $59,990 | $35,750 |
| Columbus, IN | 100 | $44,970 | $21.62 | $60,980 | $35,490 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 150 | $53,200 | $25.58 | $64,250 | $39,180 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | 270 | $44,430 | $21.36 | $59,200 | $35,190 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 540 | $44,610 | $21.45 | $58,930 | $35,050 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 2,140 | $49,250 | $23.68 | $68,820 | $35,890 |
| Kokomo, IN | 150 | $45,570 | $21.91 | $59,760 | $35,610 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 210 | $43,840 | $21.08 | $56,200 | $36,110 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 70 | $46,670 | $22.44 | $60,130 | $35,740 |
| Muncie, IN | 120 | $46,900 | $22.55 | $62,880 | $35,210 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 370 | $46,650 | $22.43 | $60,920 | $36,520 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 100 | $41,910 | $20.15 | $54,030 | $34,990 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of training does a dental assistant need in Indiana?
Dental assistants in Indiana must complete a dental assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and complete at least four hours of continuing education every two years.
Do I need a degree to be a Dental Assistant in Indiana?
No, you do not need a degree to be a Dental Assistant in Indiana.
However, you must complete an accredited dental assisting program and pass a state-administered examination.
Dental Assisting programs typically last one year, and cover topics such as infection control, dental materials, and chairside procedures.
What should I look for in a Dental Assistant Training Program?
Affordability, flexibility, reputation, and job placement assistance will help you the most, probably.
However, you also must make sure the school has accreditation with Coda as established by DANB.
Make sure the topics covered provide you with answers to questions you will find on your DA certification exam.
What qualifications should an Indiana Dental Assistant have?
They must demonstrate compassion as they communicate with patients and other dental office staff.
In addition, they need to multitask and take care of several patients at once.
What does an Indiana Dental Assistant do?
An Indiana Dental Assistant is responsible for providing patients with dental care and education.
They may also be responsible for administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and maintaining medical records.
Additional tasks they perform depends on their DA certification level.
Besides basic tasks, an EDDA Indiana Dental Assistant, for instance, would sterilize equipment, prepare patients for treatment, help during procedures, and take X-rays.
By the way, an entry-level dental assistant requires more supervision than the EDDA.
