What Classes to Take for a Dental Assistant

The dental assistant field is a very stable position and a highly in-demand job. There are usually about 15 required courses which must be taken in order to become a certified dental assistant. This can vary slightly based on the curriculum of the school you attend. The program usually takes about one year to complete and allows a student to then begin an internship in a dentist's office.   

Quarter 1

The first quarter involves taking more general courses such as Math, Computers, CPR, First Aid, Anatomy and Physiology. Depending on the dental school chosen, this quarter totals 10-18 credit hours.

Quarter 2

After successfully passing the first quarter courses, quarter two continues on with more in depth courses. They are Dental Anatomy and Pathology, Dental Office Administration, Fundamentals of Dentistry, Radiology Science and Clinical Procedures. The total of earned credits for this quarter varies from 9-19 credits.

Quarter 3

The third quarter is a much more specialized and in-depth collection of coursework. Some examples of third quarter classes are Clinical Procedures II, Clinical Lab, Human Relations and Dental Specialties. The amount of credits for this quarter varies between 15-18 credits.

Quarter 4

The last quarter of dental assistant school is filled with many hours in an actual clinic environment. The time spent in the internship provides very valuable on the job training and a true sense of the dental assistant field. Credit hours for this final quarter usually end up at approximately 15-25 credit hours. After successful completion of this quarter, a student can get a job as a dental assistant in a dentist's office.