Dental Assistant Program
The Dental Assistant Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing health care professions – Dental Assisting. With the national increase in health care-related services, and the national shortage of health care professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the health care technician field.
The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting and the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice.
Key Areas and Topics
- Introduction to the dental office and history of dentistry and dental assisting
- Legal aspects of dentistry including policies and guidelines
- Introductory oral anatomy, dental operatory and dental equipment
- Introductory tooth structure including primary and permanent teeth
- The oral cavity and related structures
- Dental hand-pieces, sterilization and other areas
$1,399
Approximately 380 hours of online instruction.
This is a work-at-your-own-pace program. Participants have 6 months to complete this program from the student's initial program start date.
Textbooks are included
Payment Plan & Registration
The U of A does not offer payment plans. However, CCI offers payment plans with 30% down. If you are interested in setting up a payment plan, please contact:
Education and Certification
- Dental assistants and aides should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
- According to DANB, a dental assistant in the state of Arkansas may perform basic supportive dental procedures specified by the state dental practice act under the personal supervision of a licensed dentist. There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting.
- This program is an entry-level training program to work as an entry-level dental assistant, not as a Registered Dental Assistant.
- This program does not prepare you to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant program.
- In many states, DANB-RHS certification is required to work in dental radiography. This program does not include this training.
Course Topics
- The dental assisting profession and the history of dentistry
- Dental anatomy and physiology
- Tooth charting, tooth surfaces and classification of restorations on a tooth
- Parts of the jaw and areas of the mouth
- Oral health and preventions of dental disease
- Infection control in dentistry and occupational health and safety
- Patient information and assessment
- Foundation of clinical dentistry
- Dental radiology
- Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture and full denture
- Dental equipment and accessories and the treatment room
- Dental hand pieces and accessories
- Dental cements and impression materials
- Coding of radiology services and the use of ICD-9-CM codes
- Assisting in comprehensive dental care
- Dental administration and communication skills
Volunteer Clinical Externship Opportunity
Students who complete this program are eligible to participate in a volunteer clinical externship opportunity with a local health care facility in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. As students progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.
