Dental Assisting Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities for dental assistants include general dentistry, group practice, specific dental specialties (such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry), public health dentistry, hospital dentistry, dental school clinics, federal, state, and community clinics, and dental supply sales.

A dental assistant assists a dentist by performing diagnostic, operative, surgical, periodontal, preventive, orthodontic, prosthodontia, and pedodontic procedures. A dental assistant may also provide oral hygiene instruction to patients, expanded duty functions and dental practice management.

The TMCC Dental Assisting program is a full-time, day program beginning in August of each year. Students learn to assist the dentist at chairside, handle dental laboratory work, and properly take, develop, and mount radiographs and carry out business procedures. The program includes lecture, laboratory, and direct clinical experience.

The Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association accredits the program in dental assisting, a specialized body recognized by the council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.