Dental Assisting

The Commission accredits Wayne County Community College’s Dental Assisting Program on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. This specialized accrediting body is recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Dental Assistants are an integral part of the dental team as they are tasked with varied responsibilities and are essentially the “backbone” of the team as we progress through the 21st century; the Dental Assisting profession continues to grow with that progression. Dental Assistants have been forecast to continue to be in great demand.

Upon completing the program, students are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). In addition, they are eligible to take the State of Michigan’s Registered Dental Assistant Examination to become a licensed Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). The program is designed to prepare students for a professional career in dental assisting, which can branch into several career opportunities. The field of dentistry, such as a dental assistant or dental laboratory technologist. 

You have the opportunity to select employment in:

• A solo dental practice
• A group specialty practice such as:
  • Orthodontics
  • Endodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Oral Surgery
  • Pedodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Cosmetic
• Research
• Mobile dentistry
• Dental sales
• Hospitals
• Educational facilities
• Large clinical facilities
• Dental insurance companies
• Correctional facilities
• Public Health
• Military

What are the Job Outlook and Responsibilities for Dental Assistants?

Employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral and general health will continue increasing the demand for preventive dental services. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed. 

Dental assistants are responsible for:

• Preparing patients for dental procedures.
• Assisting dentists in various procedures and managing medical and dental emergencies when necessary.
• Helping with infection control by sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, setting up instrument trays, and preparing materials.
• Educating patients about proper oral health care.
• Recording treatment information.
• Exposing dental x-rays digitally from dental diagnostics and caring for dental x-ray equipment.
• Collecting and recording medical and dental histories and patient vital signs.
• Providing postoperative instructions as directed by the dentist.
• Caring for and maintaining dental equipment.
• Preparing preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
• Ordering dental supplies and maintaining dental equipment inventory.
• Fabricating temporary restorations and custom impressions from preliminary impressions.

 _{Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, April 2020, Dental Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentalassistants.htm}