Dental assistants assist dentists or the other dental practitioners for providing more efficient treatments to the patients. They perform various tasks in dental clinics, such as preparing patients for treatment, obtaining dental records, sterilizing and disinfecting equipment and instruments, teaching patients regarding general and post operative oral healthcare, expose X-ray films and radiographs as per the directions of dentist, etc.
Online dental schools provide in-depth training to students in dental practices, techniques and methodology. After completing online dental assistant programs, students will be able to assist dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeon, etc. They will also get training in tasks such as administering medicines, taking X-rays, interacting with patients, cleaning teeth, etc. Normally, students can complete these programs in one year. They need to attend both theory and practical classes. Online dental schools conduct courses in Pre-clinical dental assisting, Basic clinical dental assisting practice and Dental Assisting clinical experience.
Pre-clinical dental assisting is the primary classes for students who enroll in online dental programs. The course covers subjects such as introduction to dentistry techniques, history of dental field, dentistry ethics and methodology.
Basic clinical dental assisting practice begins during the middle of online dental programs. The course empowers students with practical application and critical dental assisting skills.
During dental assisting clinical experience period, students must work under a professional dentist for a few months. This is an opportunity for students to implement the skills they have acquired during online dental programs.
Accredited Online Dental Programs
A large number of colleges around the world are offering accredited online degree programs in dental assisting. It includes preventive dentistry, dental radiography, microbiology, physiology, orofacial anatomy, pre-clinical dental hygiene, etc. During these online dental programs, students must undergo healthcare training in anatomy, accounting, health administration, nutrition, preventive dentistry, dental practices, dental health, dental X-ray, etc.
Students will also get training in clinical and administrative skills in online dental schools. Clinical skills include taking vital signs, processing and exposing X-rays, empowering students for providing treatment and conducting oral inspections, etc. Sending bills, keep treatment records, receive payments, order dental equipment and supplies, receiving patients, confirming and scheduling appointments, etc are coming under administrative tasks.
Online dental colleges are also committed to provide necessary education to students in putting rubber dams on teeth, removing sutures, applying anesthetics for gums, removing extra cements used for filling, etc. Students must also perform laboratory duties, such as polishing and cleaning dental instruments, making temporary crowns and casts of mouth and teeth, etc.
Convenience is the major benefits for students who undergo online dental colleges. However, it is important to select an accredited program by a recognized agency. Online dental schools and colleges are getting recognized accreditation from the commission on Dental Accreditation of American Dental Association.
Some major online dental colleges:
CDI College is one of the top ranked online dental colleges. It offers online Intra Oral Dental Assistant and Dental Assistant courses to the students. Pharmacology, lesions, asepsis oral diseases, oral treatment, oral hygiene and anatomy, etc are also coming under this course. The online dental programs of the college also include dental safety, operative dentistry, orthodontics, pedodontics, first aid, occupational health, etc. Students must attend 90 hours of practicum for the successful completion of online dental programs of CDI College.
Another online dental college which offer high quality dental programs to students is Penn Foster Career School. Online dental programs of this college include dental terminology, anatomy, law and ethics, infection control, radiology, record management and dental insurance. Students will be able to manage office operations, understand dental terminology and procedure, schedule appointments, handle patients’ records, etc after they complete the course successfully.
Besides, various other online dental schools offer high quality training in accredited certification courses. Some of such institutions are:
- New York University,
- Boston University,
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities,
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
- University of Southern California,
- University of South Dakota,
- University of Hawaii at Manoa,
- Northern Arizona University,
- Virginia Commonwealth University,
- University of the Pacific,
- Howard University,
- Northeastern University,
- Ohio State University,
- University of New Haven,
- Texas Women’s University,
- Vermont Technical College, etc
Basic Requirements
If you want to enroll in online dental programs, you need to remit some money, which depend on the program you are going to do. Usually, the fees include fee for test books, enrollment fee, activity fee, tuition fee, course activity fee, uniform fee, equipment fee, etc. The fees vary as per the program you selected to do in terms of certificate program, diploma, higher diploma, or degree programs. Online dental colleges also offer programs such as doctor of dental medicine and doctor of dental surgery. However, both of these online dental programs are almost same. After the completion of the course, you can earn a certificate, diploma or degree in dental assistance. You should take a high school course in health, chemistry, biology and office practices for getting training from online dental colleges.
Dental Assistant Salary
The salaries of dental assistants depend on negotiation skills of individual, location and experience. A highly experienced certified dental assistant can earn up to $ 43,857 per year.