Dentistry Support Services Colleges

Both Dental Assisting/Assistant and Dental Hygiene/Hygienist fall under the Dentistry Support Services major. To become a dental assistant, you need to complete a certificate program at a technical school, career college, online school or community college. In a year or less, a dental assistant program will prepare you for both office and laboratory duties. You’ll learn how to schedule appointments, handle billing, take x-rays, sterilize equipment and instruct patients on oral care.

Dental hygienists generally earn associates degrees, but some certificate programs qualify you for the career as well. Students who want a broader education choose to pursue bachelors degrees. Programs are available at career colleges, technical schools, colleges, community colleges, online schools and universities. During school, Dentistry Support Services majors studying dental hygiene will learn how to clean and examine teeth and gums, teach patients about oral care and look for diseases and abnormalities.

In Dentistry Support Services, you have to be comfortable putting your hands in other people’s mouths and it doesn’t hurt to be a good communicator and to work well with others. If you’re interested in health, pay attention to details and are good with your hands, you’re a good candidate for a dental career. With these skills, you may be good at other majors within Dentistry Support Services including Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician and Dental Services and Allied Professions.

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Choosing a Dentistry Support Services School

Whether you choose to pursue a certificate, associates degree or bachelors degree, you can find an online school, technical school, career college, community college, college or university nearby to study Dentistry Support Services. Clinical internships are often part of the education so you should find out if and where they take place. Most Dentistry Support Services majors will need to be licensed by the State they practice in. The school you choose should prepare you to pass the exam. Check to see how many graduates become licensed. Many colleges and schools have job placement programs, which can help you enter the workforce quickly upon graduation.

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Dentistry Support Services Degree Programs

Many Dentistry Support Services majors attend career colleges, online schools and technical schools to earn a certificate in Dental Assisting/Assistant. Coursework will provide both front-office and clinical skills through classes like oral anatomy, clinical practice, dental radiology, dental practice and dental records. Many programs also include a clinical internship before you enter the workforce.

To double your earning potential you may want to attend school for a Dental Hygiene/Hygienist degree instead. While most in the field earn a 2-year associates degree, a certificate program can qualify you for work in a year or less and a bachelors degree will give you a broad education base. Programs are available at career colleges, technical schools, community colleges, online schools, colleges and universities. At school, you’ll enroll in a mix of laboratory, clinical and classroom instruction with courses like periodontology, anatomy, physiology, clinical dental hygiene and nutrition. As part of your education, you’ll complete an internship at a dental office or clinic.

Dentistry Support Services Degree Programs:

Online Dentistry Support Services Degree Programs at Online Schools

You can also get an online degree in Dentistry Support Services through a variety of distance learning programs at career colleges, technical schools, colleges and universities. Online school dental assistant and dental hygiene programs can result in an online degree at the certificate, associate or bachelor’s level.

Online Dentistry Support Services Degree Programs:

Online Dentistry Support Services Schools:

High School Preparation

If you’re interested in going to college or university for Dentistry Support Services, focus on math, biology and chemistry now. Volunteer work at a local dental clinic can impress admissions officers. And because you’ll be working with a variety of patients, you should also consider learning a foreign language applicable to the location you wish to work.

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Popular Careers in the Field of Dentistry Support Services

Almost all careers in the Dentistry Support Services are in dental offices. The job outlook for both dental hygienists and dental assistants is expected to be excellent for the next decade, as both are ranked in the category of fastest growing careers.

Generally, in Dentistry Support Services, after you finish school you’ll need to pass a State-licensing exam before you can begin work in a particular state. Even if not required in your state, a license looks favorable to employers.

Dental hygiene is the career with the highest salary in Dentistry Support Services with hourly wages averaging between $25 and $35. Dental assistants earn around $12 to $17 per hour. Dental assistants can strive to earn more by advancing their careers with positions as dental office managers, dental product sale representatives, insurance claims processors or dental-assisting instructors. Similar careers—Medical Assistant, Physical Therapist Aides, Fitness Trainers, Software Engineers and Network Systems Analysts—may also interest you.

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