Kansas Dental Assistant Schools and Salary Guide

Becoming a Dental Assistant in Kansas offers you a chance to earn a stable living.

It also places you in a position to pursue a career in dental hygiene and licensed dentistry.

Licensing Requirements To Become a Kansas Dental Assistant

You do not need a license to perform basic dental duties in Kansas, such as helping a dentist set up for a tooth cleaning.

Working in a dental office answering phones or scheduling appointments also does not require much training.

If you want to offer coronal polishing or scaling procedures, however, you must receive instruction from a licensed dentist.

Performing advanced dental assisting duties also requires training from an educational program approved by the Kansas Dental Board.

Another function that requires a certification includes administering nitrous oxide or oxygen to patients.

Administrative of sedatives calls for at least 16 hours of training in a program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Mandatory course topics include anatomy, pharmacology, emergency and complication preparation, and pain control theories.

You also must take training in OSHA-approved programs for preventing infections and dealing with blood-borne pathogens.

One option is to take courses that prepare you for the Infection Control (ICE) certificate.

Even though Kansas does not have many training requirements, you also will want to abide by employer standards.

For instance, dental offices prefer students who can pass a Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam.

It is also wise to take the Radiology Health and Safety (RHS) course and take the related certification test.

All of this prepares you for expanded dental duties in the state of Kansas.

5 Dental Assistant Schools in Kansas

1. Flint Hills Technical College

Flint Hills has a one-year Dental Assisting technical program that teaches you about radiology, office management, and chairside support.

It also provides you with the preliminary foundation courses that give you the understanding you need when working for a licensed dentist.

Eligible high school students also are encouraged to apply.

This school also hosts a Dental Assisting Associate Degree program.

2. Salina Area Technical College (Salina Tech)

Salina Tech offers both a nine-month Dental Assisting Certificate program and a two-year associate degree program of the same.

You can gain up to 300 hours of hands-on experience working while supervised by a License Dentist in a local clinic.

The training you receive will teach you how to gather patient test results, including X-rays.

In addition, you will know how to help dentists while they interpret a diagnosis and provide treatment.

Your coursework will also equip you with Infection Control and patient oral hygiene information that promotes health and safety.

This program will prepare you for your DANB exams.

Salina Tech also provides continuing education (CE) training tracks offer Infection Control, Basic Life Support (CPR), and hazardous materials training.

You may want to request notifications to find out which class offerings pertain to a Dental Assistant career.

Some courses may make you eligible for certificate renewals.

3. Wichita State University

The Wichita State program is for becoming a Dental Hygienist, not a Dental Assistant.

The requirements for these do vary somewhat, and you should follow the dental hygiene guidelines if that is what you prefer to become.

This option might suit you if you already are a Dental Assistant and want to transfer to a Hygienist position.

The Dental Hygienist program includes core courses, such as anatomy or physiology and medical terminology.

It also provides introductions to dental materials for restorative care.

In addition, you will practice in a real clinic for a licensed dentist.

You have the choice between the entry-level and advanced bachelor’s degree programs.

4. The DALE Foundation

The DALE Foundation provides resources for Dental Assistant training in every state and provides requirements information.

DALE also hosts ongoing continuing education (CE) courses, some of which apply to students who want to keep or renew their certifications.

Health and safety are primary course topic offerings.

5. Johnson County Community College (JCCC)

This school provides a variety of continuing education (CE) courses.

Some CE training applies to dental assisting preparation and certificate renewal.

Available classes vary from term to term.

If you cannot find the courses you’re looking for, you may want to request customized training solutions, which JCCC offers.

This school also has a Dental Hygiene Program that could help you expand your duties if you are already employed in a dental office.

However, keep in mind that the guidelines for a Dental Hygienist are different from those for a Dental Assistant.

Dental Assistant Schools in Kansas – Summary Table

Salary

In 2022, it became publicly known that a Dental Assistant in Kansas can make an average of $38,831.

Salaries range from $34,440 to $43,085.

Additional training, certifications, and experience could raise your salary to at least $46,957.

Cities to look for jobs include Junction City, Kansas City, Leawood, Topeka, and Wichita.

Regional Salary in Kansas