Allied Health - Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

Assists in providing dental services including preparing patients for examination and treatment. Responsible for sterilizing instruments and maintaining equipment. Mixes amalgams, cements, and composites. Takes dental x-rays and maintains records. Performs assigned lab procedures.

Candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent. This must include or be supplemented by a course of study consisting of at least 600 instructional hours at an approved school for Dental Assistants. Alternatively, candidates can qualify with a four-year high school diploma plus a course of study consisting of at least 300 instructional hours and six months of full-time satisfactory experience as a Dental Assistant. Experience must include taking, developing, and mounting dental radiographs, assisting a dentist at chairside, and sterilizing dental instruments. A satisfactory combination of education and experience that meets the above requirements is also acceptable. Candidates must have a minimum of a four-year high school diploma or GED. Experience as a receptionist or clerk in a dental office is not acceptable towards meeting the qualification requirements.