Dental Programs

Dental Assisting

Get the hands-on training for a career in dental care. Carrington College’s Dental Assisting program prepares you to work alongside dentists, assisting with patient care, office responsibilities, and laboratory procedures—helping create healthier smiles in your community.
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Carrington's Dental Assisting Hero

Program Details

Carrington College’s Dental Assisting program prepares you for a hands-on role in patient care, office administration, and laboratory procedures within a dental practice. Upon completion of the Dental Assisting program, graduates will be able to:

Complete all dental assisting duties competently for a broad scope of dental specialties in a professional setting.
Utilize infection control and safe practice techniques in a variety of clinical settings.
Establish optimum Radiation Health and Safety practices to ensure high quality diagnostic images.
Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. Within the State of California, graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) exam offered by the Dental Board of California (DBC) and apply to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.

The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call (602) 492-1086 to set an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.

Your education is an investment in your future, and Carrington College is here to help. We offer a variety of financial aid options, including federal, state, and private programs,  Sas well as student loans, grants, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Each program has different requirements and application instructions. Our team is here to guide you through the options and application process.

Academic Cost

For complete information on current tuition costs, please see the Academic Catalog.

The best way for us to understand your financial needs is to meet in person. Call (602) 492-1086 to set an appointment with our Student Finance Department so we can help you develop your personalized financial plan to achieve your educational goals.

Carrington College is proud to offer our Dental Assisting program at multiple locations around the Western U.S. To learn more about our locations, explore their pages.

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Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 428 J Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814; 415 506 0234 an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at accjc.org.

For comprehensive information on Carrington College’s accreditation and approvals, visit carrington.edu/accreditation-and-approvals/.

The Dental Board of California, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550, Sacramento, CA 95815, 877-729-7789, www.dbc.ca.gov, approves the Carrington College Dental Assisting programs at the Bakersfield, Fresno, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, Stockton, Temecula, Victor Valley (Hesperia), and Visalia campuses.

Carrington College’s Health Studies Associate of Science Degree program provides an opportunity for individuals to build on prior education to earn the educational credential that is often needed for advancement in the health and wellness fields.

The Health Studies AS Degree program is an online degree-completion option that offers students a broad base of general education course offerings that can be completed in as few as 7 months.  Visit Our Health Studies Page

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REAL-WORLD SKILLS

Prepare for a career as the face of a dental practice.

UPLEVEL IF YOU'D LIKE

Degree completion option available.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING OPTIONS

Blended program options available with online lecture and on ground lab.

AFFORDABLE TUITION

Affordable tuition varies by location, learn more now.

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Discover What it’s Like to Train to Become a Dental Assistant at Carrington

I really loved it because of the teacher—she made it so fun,” she says. “And it was something different for me; I hadn’t realized how important dental assistants are and how much they do.

Carrie R.

2018 Dental Assisting Graduate

Carrington Dental Assistant Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

You’re passionate about helping people with their smiles. That will help you succeed as a dental assistant. It is projected that opportunities for dental assistants will continue to grow. And there are some reasons for this growth, including:

  • Continued research showing a link between oral health and general health will increase the demand for preventive dental services.
  • Dentists need dental assistants to help with routine tasks, giving the dentist more time to see patients in their practice and focus on more complex procedures.

What Will I Learn?

PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY & DENTAL SCIENCE

DENTAL OFFICE PROTOCOLS

DENTAL ASSISTING PROCEDURES

Check out our guide on becoming a Dental Assistant.

Are you interested in dentistry and passionate about helping people? Then a dental assistant career could be for you. Dental assistants work in dental offices under the supervision of dentists. They have excellent interpersonal, organizational, and listening skills. They spend much of their time working closely with dentists to support the dental patient experience. They generally require dental education that leads to a certificate or diploma program and includes hands-on dental training. This hands-on training can prepare you for typical dental office duties such as the following:

  • Hand instruments to dentists during procedures
  • Dry patients’ mouths using suction hoses and other equipment
  • Instruct patients in proper oral hygiene
  • Process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist
  • Keep records of dental treatments
  • Schedule patient appointments
  • Work with patients on billing and payment

Those who possess skills in listening, dexterity, organization, interpersonal aptitude, and a detail-oriented approach to rules and protocols are a good fit for a dental assistant role.

See Career Guide

Dental Assisting FAQ

  • A Dental Assisting program may take up to two years to complete, depending on whether it’s a certificate, diploma, or degree. However, Carrington College’s Dental Assisting certificate program can be completed in as little as nine months.

Sources:

  1. www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-6
  2. www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm
  3. Student loans, grants and scholarships are available to those who qualify.
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