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DENTAL ASSISTANT
 
As a Dental Assistant, you will be prepared to work chairside with the dentist as well as in their
front office.
At Concorde you will receive
"multi-tasked" training, which means you will be trained in both clinical and administrative capabilities.
Clinical responsibilities include sterilizing and preparing instrument trays, exposing and processing
x-rays, conducting oral inspections, preparing patients for treatment, and taking vital signs. Administrative responsibilities include patient charting, appointment setting, completing insurance forms, accounts payable and fee collections.
How long is the program?
In San Bernardino, we have both day and evening programs available.
- Our Day program is 32 weeks.
- Our Evening program is 39 weeks.
Will I receive hands-on, real world job experience?
Concorde provides a realistic laboratory environment , and we also offer hands-on working experience called an externship. Our Dental Assistant externship is 4 weeks long for both our day and evening programs.
What skills will I learn?
Our campus incorporates the Dental Assistant and Registered Dental Assistant programs together to provide training in these skills. As a student you will learn the proper techniques and/or methods in order to perform the following:
- Registered Dental Assistant chairside duties and skills
- Coronal polishing (polishing the teeth)
- Use an Ultrasonic Scaler in an orthodontic setting
- Take vital signs
- Perform CPR
- Sterilizing instruments and equipment
- Proper sterilization and infection control procedures
- Prepare instrument trays and set-up treatment rooms
- Perform oral inspections
- Working knowledge of dental radiology (x-rays) including exposing, processing and mounting films
- Administer fluoride treatments
- Dental dams
- Dental cements
- Teaching patients proper oral hygiene strategies
- Taking impressions of patient's teeth
- Schedule appointments
- Create patient charts
- Basic related computer applications
- Maintain records and supplies
- Process accounts payable and collections
- Work with insurance forms
Where can I work?
A majority of Dental Assistants are employed by general dentists. Some are employed by specialists (Orthodontists, Oral Surgeons, etc.). Some Assistants work part-time and sometimes in more than one office. Assistants may have some freedom to choose their own hours.
- Private practice
- Group practice
- Specialty practices
- Public health
- Hospital dental clinics
- Dental school
- Dental supply manufacturers
Are there really jobs available for me?
 We could tell you... "Absolutely." But, what we prefer to do is to encourage you to do the research yourself. Get a copy of your local newspaper and read through the healthcare job listings. Look for your potential job category and see for yourself how many great opportunities will be available to you when you complete your Concorde training. Jump online and search some of the excellent job resource websites for opportunities in your field. The jobs are out there... so don't wait any longer if you want to work in healthcare. Come to Concorde and we'll prepare you quickly and thoroughly for your new career.
Will I receive any special certificates or qualifications?
- Concorde Career College Diploma
- The Concorde San Bernardino Dental Assistant program is approved by the Committee on Dental Auxiliary of the Board of Dental Examiners, which allows graduates to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant Examination.
- CPR Certification
- California Radiation Safety Certificate/X-ray license
- Coronal Polishing Certificate (pending RDA test results)
- Ultrasonic Scaling Certificate (pending RDA test results)
And finally, how much does it cost?
We know how important this question is to most of you. We have found that our program costs may change slightly with each new session. For that reason, we are unable to provide cost information on our website. We are, however, very happy to discuss our current program costs with you personally. Please give us a call anytime. Just tell your campus representative that you have visited our website and would like information about our program.
If you have questions about financial aid, your campus representative will refer you to our excellent Financial Aid staff who are specifically here to help you explore financial aid options available to you!
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Campus Information
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