Dental Assistant School

Dental Assistants help power the world with smiles by providing essential support to dentists and compassionate care for patients.

  • Diploma in as little as 10-months
  • 300-hour externship
  • Institutionally accredited by ABHES

Application Review Starts July 15th

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Dental Assistants ensure procedures run smoothly and efficiently, making patients feel more comfortable and confident during treatment.

The 10-month Comprehensive Dental Assisting program is designed to prepare students for careers in the dental field. The program offers comprehensive training with a fast-paced curriculum taught in a working, on-campus clinical lab. Students also obtain certificates in a variety of different areas of dentistry, potentially opening the door to even more opportunities.

Why Caris College?

At Caris College, we treat our students like family by offering an ideal combination of small class sizes, flexible schedules, and a fast track to the career of your dreams. Our dedicated team of experienced instructors put you first and provide care, encouragement, and hands-on training in a working clinical lab setting. If you're ready to commit to a future that's all about caring for others, we're committed to helping you get there.

Why Dental Assisting?

The Caris College Comprehensive Dental Assisting program trains students to perform a variety of clinical and patient care duties in the dental field. Students can expect to receive instruction in the following areas:

  • Dental Basic Sciences including all aspects of preventative dentistry, oral hygiene, anatomical structure of teeth, and cavity classification
  • Dental charting, dental practice management software (Dentrix), dental office administration, and scheduling
  • HIPAA and OSHA regulations, professional ethics, legal standards, and interpersonal communication
  • Dental insurance billing and coding, insurance tracking systems, and claim filing procedures
  • Clinical Procedures such as infection control, hazardous materials management, basic chair-side assisting, instrument transfer, anesthesia, and sedation
  • Dental cements, liners and bonding agents, and restorative materials
  • Emergency management and preparation for patient care
  • Students will be prepared for licensure exams such as the RDA, CDA, ICE, GC, RHS, and NELDA (RHS is required for the State of Indiana)
  • Students earn Dental Assisting Certificates in Expanded Duties Dental Assisting, Comprehensive Dental Assisting, Radiation Health and Safety (Dental X-Ray), and Nomad Pro dental X-Ray training, as well as CPR Certification (American Heart Association)

Jumpstart Your Career in Months, Not Years

Graduates of our Dental Assistant school will be prepared to seek entry-level employment in dental offices, both specialty and general practices across the country, and may often continue to further their careers as dental hygienists. Dental Assistants can seek employment in a variety of dental office settings, such as:

  • General Dentistry Offices
  • Endodontic Offices
  • Orthodontics Offices
  • Oral Surgery Center
  • Pedodontics or Pediatric Dentistry Offices
  • Periodontic Offices
  • Prosthodontics Specialty Centers
  • Dental Labs

DENTAL ASSISTANT VS. DENTAL HYGIENIST

Unlike Dental Hygienist progams, Dental Assistant programs are designed for those seeking a cost-effective way to quickly start their dental career. Caris College provides an accelerated Dental Assisting program with many finance options that can make it easier to obtain industry-leading training and faster employment in the dental field compared to the extensive time and financial investment that can be required in a dental hygienist program. Here are some comparisions between dental assistant and dental hygienist training programs:

Dental Assistant
  • Affordable Tuition
  • 10 Month Program
  • Daily Variety of Tasks
  • Classes Start Monthly
  • Experience Not Required Before Training
  • Don't Have to Give Patients Shots
  • Can Choose Many Different Specialties
  • High Job Satisfaction
  • No Liability Insurance Needed
  • 1 License Good Forever
  • Continuing Education Not Required
Dental Hygienist
  • $65,000+ in Loans
  • 2 Year Program
  • Same Procedures Everyday
  • Up to 2 to 4 Year Waitlist
  • Some Dental Experience May be Required
  • Required to Give Patient Shots
  • General Dentistry or Periodontics Only
  • High Burnout Rate
  • Expensive Liability Insurance Required
  • Multiple License, Yearly Renewals
  • Yearly Education to Keep License

Testimonials

“I am currently enrolled in the Comprehensive Dental Assisting program and love the instructors and flexible hours for schooling! It’s fast-paced, but they are very thorough in what they teach. It’s small classes and tons of hands-on. I recommend Caris College to anyone who is looking into Sonography, Dental Assisting, and Patient Care Tech!”

–K. Akins: Comprehensive Dental Assisting Program Student

“Caris College has provided me with an opportunity to secure my future career and financial situation with an associate degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Being able to practice scanning in the clinical lab, while on campus, has given me the confidence I need to be successful during my externship. I’m excited about my future opportunities and know I made the best decision by choosing Caris!”

–Kaylin S.: Diagnostic Medical Sonography Graduate