Dental Assistant Program
Central Career School's Dental Assistant Program provides you with the necessary knowledge and hands-on skills you need to assist a dentist in all phases of modern dental office operations.
You will possess the chairside skills and administrative knowledge needed to seek an entry-level position in either small or large dental practices as well as federal or state dental offices.
Upon completion of the dental assistant program, you will be eligible to sit for the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s approved dental radiography examination. Once you have your X-Ray license, and with our career placement assistance, you will be on your way to seeking a successful career as a Dental Assistant.
What Our Students Say
I love working in the Dental Industry. It’s great money and I feel like I make a difference.
Raquel, Dental Graduate
Is Becoming a Dental Assistant the Right Career for You?
Gaining your dental assistant certification at Central Career School could be only the first step into a new career path. If you are looking to brighten people’s smile in your community then becoming a dental assistant may be the right move for you. Here are some other reasons people have joined this popular medical industry:
- Worried about finding a job after you get your certification? You won't have to worry about finding a job because hundreds of new dental practices are opening all the time and they need assistance running their office. Central Career School’s dental assistant program will get you all the tools you need to get started.
- Do you consider yourself a lifelong learner? Personal and professional growth is encouraged in the dental assistant field and working closely with licensed dentists could lead you to obtain a higher degree in the dental field and that could lead to you opening a practice. Plus, keeping yourself up-to-date on the newest methods also helps keep your dental office modern and fresh.
- Are you a people person? One of the main benefits to becoming a dental assistant is that while you will work with computers for setting up appointments and updating files, you get to speak with patients face-to-face and aren’t stuck behind a desk and in front of a screen all day.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, reach out to our staff to see how we can get you signed up for the dental assistant program at Central Career School. You can receive your dental assistant certificate in as little as 32 weeks in our Day Program. We also offer a 57-week course program for evening school students.
Dental Assistant Job Opportunities
Most dental assistants are employed by general dentists in the Edison, NJ area. Some dental assistant students get employed by specialist practices such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics. Dental assistants can also find work in group dental practices, insurance companies, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and public health facilities. No matter where you get hired after you gain your dental assistant certification at the Central Career School in Edison, NJ you will be prepared to take the test and begin your dental assistant career.
In short, dental assisting is a high-demand career which means excellent career opportunities for trained assistants. The average dental assistant salary ranges from $36,956 to $46,042 in Edison, NJ. The dental assistant field is rapidly growing, and they are in high demand.
Learning Outcomes from Classes at Central Career School
During the externship phase of the dental assistant program, you will gain clinical, laboratory, and administrative dental assisting experience in an actual dental office, under the supervision of a licensed dentist. You will be able to see how day-to-day operations are run and be able to sit in on examinations, cleanings, and other dental services. Getting this firsthand experience will allow you to see how the world of dental assisting operates.
As a dental assistant student at Central Career School in Edison, NJ, you will learn to perform the following essential tasks necessary for entry-level employment at a dental office:
- Schedule appointments
- Maintain records and supplies
- Work with insurance forms
- Expose and process x-rays
- Create patient charts
- Take oral inspections
- Take vital signs
- Perform CPR
- Sterilize instruments
- Administer fluoride treatments
- Prepare instrument trays
- Educate patients on proper oral care
- And much more!
Did You Know These Facts About Dental Assistant Training?
Below are some facts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and what they have said about becoming a dental assistant. There are also some general facts surrounding the career. If you have further questions about what it takes to be a dental assistant, please reach out to us at Central Career School, and we will assist you with any of those and any other comments or concerns. Our staff is waiting by the phone to help you get your career started as a dental assistant student today!
- Job prospects in the dental assistant field should be excellent by the time you receive your certification.
- Employment for dental assistants is expected to increase much faster than average over the upcoming years.
- Work is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018. Dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.
- Most dental offices are only open on weekdays so you can look forward to your weekends.
- While most work full-time, there is plenty of part-time work available.
- Becoming a dental assistant can get you the experience to pursue higher education and become a dentist yourself.
- Dental assistants are also lifelong learners, the field is always advancing technologically, and you can find out how this tech will assist you in the office.
Learning Outcomes
As a Dental Assistant student at Central Career School you will learn to perform the following key tasks necessary for entry-level employment:
- Take oral inspections
- Expose and process x-rays
- Take vital signs
- Perform CPR
- Sterilize instruments
- Prepare instrument trays
- Administer fluoride treatments
- Educate patients on proper oral care
- Schedule appointments
- Create patient charts
- Maintain records and supplies
- Work with insurance forms
- And much more!
During the externship phase of the program, you will gain clinical, laboratory, and administrative dental assisting experience in a dental office, under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
Career Opportunities
Most Dental Assistants are employed by General Dentists. Some are employed by Specialist practices such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics and periodontics. Dental Assistants can also be found in group dental practices, insurance companies, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and public health facilities
In short, Dental Assisting is a high-demand career which means excellent career opportunities for trained Assistants
Did You Know?
What the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics says about Dental Assisting.
- Job prospects should be excellent
- Employment is expected to increase much faster than average
- Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations
LS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition: Dental Assistants (Selected excerpts).
Central Career School's Dental Assistant Program
Acquire the knowledge and skills you need to assist a dentist in all phases of modern dental office operations. Dental Assistants have a variety of duties including providing patient care, taking x-rays, keeping dental records and scheduling appointments. A Dental Assistants’ job is detail oriented and assistants must follow specific rules and protocols, such as infection control procedures when helping treat patients. Dexterity in a Dental Assistant is important an assistant must work well with their hands. Assistants work in a tight space on a small part of the body with precise instruments. Dental Assistants must be considerate when working with patients who are sensitive to pain or have a fear of undergoing dental treatment. Dental Assistants must pay attention to patients and other healthcare workers. They need to follow directions from a dentist or dental hygienist to help treat patients and perform tasks, such as taking x-rays. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of Dental Assistants is projected to grow eleven (11%) percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventative dental services. Dentists will continue to hire dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing dentists to work more efficiently. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.
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