Career Certificate
Clinical Dental Assistant Certification Training
Prepare for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam Online
This online Clinical Dental Assistant certification training will equip you for career success—with no previous experience necessary! You will learn about every aspect of professional dental assisting, including invaluable real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants and essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more.
You will even explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software. You will also be ready to pursue certification as a dental assistant by passing the radiology, infection control, and anatomy and physiology portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations – NELDA or CDA.
Students of this clinical Dental Assistant program can participate in ed2go’s optional Clinical Experience support program. The application for the Clinical Experience support program is within the course. You must be 80% complete within this dental assistant course before you are eligible to reach out to a Clinical Experience Team member for program information. Once you have gained clinical experience and in-person hours, you will be prepared for the general dental assistant certification exam. See below for the full requirements.
Job Outlook for Clinical Dental Assistants
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a dental assistant is $46,540 as of May 2023. The highest 10% of earners make over $61,060 annually.
Employment is projected to grow by 7% through 2032, which is considered much faster than average. On average, 55,100 new job openings are projected for these professionals over this time period.
FAQs about Dental Assistants
Course Objectives
- Describe the roles for each member of the dental team and twelve dental specialties
- Define the legal and ethical practice of dental assisting, including HIPAA
- Explain deciduous and permanent dentition along with their functions in dental anatomy and pathology
- Describe the chain of infection, transmission routes, and infection control for the dental practice, along with OSHA regulations
- Summarize the role of the dental assistant in pharmacology, nutrition, and interaction with a variety of patients in normal daily activities and emergency situations
- Describe the use, care, and preparation of dental instruments for patient care
- Outline the necessary components of a patient record prior to dental charting
- Use charting techniques to identify dental restorations and disease to create a treatment plan to prevent future disease progression
- Set up equipment for anesthesia and sedation.
- Describe patient clinical methods and techniques to prevent dental disease
- Identify the process of exposing high-quality radiographs in both traditional and digital formats
- Describe dental materials, their uses in dental treatment, and skills needed to use them efficiently
- Define the dental assistant’s role in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry
- Explain the communication and business needs to maintain a dental business office
- State transferable hard and soft skills in order to complete a résumé for a dental assistant position
Prerequisites and Requirements
There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime.
Instructor
Priscilla Garcia
Priscilla Garcia, RDA, CPP, is a dental professional with over 20 years of industry experience. She began her career in dentistry as a chair-side dental assistant in 2002. Her work has included working chair-side and in an administrative capacity in general and specialty practices.
Priscilla has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which she leveraged to begin teaching dental assisting part-time at Collin College in 2016. She transitioned to program managing and teaching dental assisting full-time with Collin College in 2017.