Online Dental Assistant Programs

Online Dental Assistant College Programs.

The University of North Dakota offers both clinical and administrative dental assistant programs. Sadly college credit is not available for any of these courses, as they provide vocational training for a specific job. Clinical courses cover subjects such as oral health and patient care. In the administrative program, topics include patient record management, dental terminology, billing and insurance.

The Southwestern Community College of Iowa offers clinical dental assistant training. This program includes coursework on radiation safety, infection control and strategies to find jobs as a dental assistant. Students also learn to detect tooth decay and gum disease as well as preventive care techniques.

The Penn Foster Career School offers an online, nine-step course starting around $900. You can move on to the next step when you are ready, so the completion time varies. The course would prepare you for mainly clerical roles including scheduling appointments and updating patient records. Upon completion of this course, you will be eligible to use Penn Foster's job placement program to help with your job search. Enrollment in the Penn Foster course includes all textbooks, equipment and any learning aids you would require.

The U.S. Career Institute's program can be completed in as little as four months. This program was around $1,500 and you can choose to pay in monthly installments of as little as $50. This program offers all the usual training in clerical work and billing but also promises training in laboratory work and patient care. This course also allows you to study at your own pace. You are mailed all the neccessary books, supplies and test materials and will be free to complete them when you wish.

Joint programs are run through many schools including the Austin Community College. While the price of the program varies by school, the program should be completed easily within six months. Along with the expected clerical training, these courses also includes education on effective communication skills. The price of all textbooks is usually included. The program does require some typing experience and a working knowledge of word processing. Viewing the course material will require your computer to have the latest version of Acrobat Reader and a Flash player. Both are available for free downloads.

GES partners with other colleges and universities to provide online training. The 240 hour clinical dental assisting program is designed to be completed in six months, and prepares the student to take the radiology and infection control portions of the Dental Assisting National Board Examination. Prospective students must have a high school diploma and basic computer skills. Internet access and an email address are required for the program. The partner schools determine tuition cost; however, all students may request a six-month extension at no additional charge. Graduates receive a clinical dental assistant certificate.

The self directed program at the U.S. Career Institute can be usually be completed in around four months, and trains the student in front office procedures as well as dental examinations and treatments.

Their curriculum consists of five instruction packs:

Pack I: Welcome to the World of Dentistry; The Role of the Dental Assistant; Preventive Dentistry and Nutrition; Welcoming the Dental Patient; Dental Equipment; Dental Instruments; Dental Materials; The Dental Examination

Pack II: Front Office Procedures; Disease Transmission; Safety in the Dental Office; Introduction to Oral Anatomy; Dental Anatomy and Terminology; Charting and Classification; Chairside Assisting; Dental Pain Management

Pack III: Pediatric Dentistry; Orthodontics; Oral Pathology; Medical Emergencies; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Pack IV: Dental Insurance; Radiology Part I; Radiology Part II; Impressions; Restorative Dental Procedures

Pack V: Prosthodontics; Periodontics; Endodontics; The Dental Assistant's Guide to Law and Ethics; Comprehensive Practicum