Are you looking for a career that offers the opportunity to provide a needed service to others? Our dental assistant program offers a solid and intense program to ensure that our students acquire the confidence and skills needed to perform the very first day on the job.
Our dental assistant classes utilize state-of-the-art equipment combined with a complete dental operatory to provide a virtual dental office designed to groom students for the actual work environment. There is constant one-on-one interaction to learn about the equipment and the latest techniques used in today’s dental field. Our classrooms are spacious and efficient for practicing techniques.
Be in demand as a Dental Assistant!
A dental assistant is invaluable as a member of the dental health team, providing assistance to chair side, laboratory and administrative procedures. At chair side, they assist the dentist in making patients comfortable and preparing them for treatment. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and are responsible for sterilizing the instruments used. In the office, they schedule and confirm appointments. In the lab, they make casts of teeth, clean and polish removable appliances and make temporary crowns.
Dental assistants are always in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, which is much faster than the average for all occupations combined. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.
Dental Assistant Training in St. Louis
Are you looking for a career that offers the opportunity to provide a needed service to others? Our accredited dental assistant school in St. Louis, MO, offers a comprehensive, hands-on program to ensure that our students acquire the confidence and skills needed to perform their very first day on the job:
- Our dental assistant classes utilize state-of-the-art equipment combined with a complete dental operatory to provide a virtual dental office designed to groom students for the actual work environment.
- There is constant one-on-one interaction with the equipment and latest techniques used in today’s dental field.
- Classrooms are spacious and designed to be efficient for advanced practicing of techniques.
These program features set the foundation for a career as a dental assistant. To ensure our graduates are prepared to succeed on the job, you will also learn skills such as:
- Time management – keeping the office running smoothly
- Proactivity – anticipating needs and concerns before they arise
- Interpersonal relations – keeping patients feeling calm and relaxed, as well as working effectively as part of a dental team
- Clear communication skills – effectively assisting the dentist and understanding what patients need
- Observation and organization – learning new procedures, becoming very familiar with the dentist’s routines, and making sure everything is stored in the right place
Your Career as a Dental Assistant
A dental assistant is invaluable as a member of the dental health team, aiding in chair-side, laboratory, and administrative procedures. As a dental assistant, you get the chance to help people improve their oral health while working alongside a dentist or dental hygienist. Though the exact duties of a dental assistant vary from state to state, you will most likely be:
- Seating patients in the treatment area
- Passing requested instruments to the dentist during dental procedures
- Sterilizing and preparing instruments
- Taking impressions of teeth for study models
- Polishing crowns
- Taking and developing X-rays
- Performing laboratory functions, such as pouring and trimming models, constructing custom trays, and fabricating temporary crowns and bridges
- Assisting with implementation and documentation of current infection control standards
- Work with patients to make them comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them for treatments and procedures
- Sterilize dental instruments
- Prepare the work area for patient treatment by setting out instruments and materials
- Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures
- Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses or other equipment
- Instruct patients in proper dental hygiene
- Process X-rays and do lab tasks under the direction of a dentist
- Keep records of dental treatments
- Schedule patient appointments
- Manage billing and payment
Additionally, having a calm and positive demeanor sets a good tone in the dentist’s office and helps patients feel less anxious, so your attitude is a huge part of a dental assistant job. You will have the opportunity to meet many patients and could be one of the first faces they see upon entering the office.
Accreditation/Certification Information for Our Dental Assisting Program
The dental assistant program at Midwest Institute is institutionally accredited by ABHES. Graduates are eligible for — and encouraged to take — the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) Certification Exam, which is offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), Inc. Passing the NELDA exam conveys qualifications to perform duties in those states that recognize the exam or certification as meeting state dental assisting requirements. Graduates are also eligible for and encouraged to take the “Basic Skills” examination, which is offered by the state of Missouri and recognized on a local level.
In addition, the American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) examination, which is also available to graduates of the Midwest Institute Dental Assisting Program. Both the NELDA and the RDA examinations are recognized on a national level.
Dental assisting is more than a job — it’s a chance to develop a satisfying career that brings you joy each and every day. Getting a great dental assisting job in St. Louis, the state of Missouri, or another part of the country is just weeks away! Midwest Institute’s accredited dental assistant training program is offered at the Earth City campus.
If you have any questions, just contact us, and one of our knowledgeable admissions counselors will respond promptly to assist you.
This program is offered at the Earth City Campus.
See our Dental Assisting students in action!
