Dental Assistant

DIPLOMA PROGRAM

The Dental Assistant program at Pittsburgh Career Institute (PCI) is designed to prepare students to assist in a variety of dental office situations.

Students in the Dental Assistant training program will be exposed to dental laboratory and office administration procedures. The core curriculum is structured to include a lecture component, a laboratory component, and a clinical component. The final externship portion of the curriculum consists of supervised experiences in a clinical environment, which requires competencies, logs, and evaluations to be completed by the student.

At the conclusion of the 10-month program, graduates who have diligently studied and attended class, completed their externship, and practiced their skills can earn a diploma and should be prepared to seek entry-level employment as dental assistants.

Concepts & Skills Taught

Dental anatomy
Pathology and terminology
Dental instruments and materials
Radiography concepts
Chair-side assisting techniques

Career Outcomes

Dental practices
Clinics

WHAT DOES A DENTAL ASSISTANT DO?

Dental assisting duties might vary by practice. Generally speaking, you’ll be tackling administrative duties and patient prep no matter where you’re employed, but other responsibilities may vary. Typically, someone in a dental assisting role takes care of the following:

Maintaining patient records
Prepping patients for procedures
Assisting dentists during procedures by handling instruments
Sterilizing dental instruments
Scheduling patient appointments
Instructing patients on dental health and hygiene
Completing basic lab tasks

WHAT CERTIFICATION WILL I NEED?

Most dental assistants who choose to become nationally certified take the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The Radiation Health and Safety Exam is an additional certification opportunity.

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Dental Assistant Graduate Success Story: Davon

"I chose PCI because it was more than a school to me; it was like a home away from home"

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