High Tech Institute

Dental Assistants perform various patient care, office and laboratory duties in both small and large dental practices. They're responsible for making patients as comfortable as possible, preparing them for treatment, and obtaining dental records. During a patient exam, Dental Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists, and keep patients' mouths clear by using suction or other devices.

They also sterilize instruments and equipment, prepare tray setups for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care. Some Dental Assistants prepare materials for making impressions and restorations, expose radiographs, and process dental x-ray film.

They also may remove sutures, apply anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment.

Those with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions taken by dentists, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Dental Assistants with front office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies.

Students who graduate from the High-Tech Institute - Sacramento Dental Assistant program receive a Diploma.

Upon graduation, you will be qualified to work as a Dental Assistant, a Chairside Assistant or a Dental Receptionist in large or small dental offices and clinics.

Each course stands alone as a unit of study and is not dependent upon prerequisite training. A student may enter the program at the beginning of any course and continue through the sequence until completion of all courses.

Following the completion of the coursework, you will have the opportunity to participate in a four-week externship in a dental facility under the supervision of a dental professional. During this time, you will practice the skills learned during the classroom portion of the course.

The unpaid externship consists of 160 clock hours, averaging eight hours a day, five days a week.

High Tech Institute Location

Other dental schools in Sacramento

Western Career College Address: 8909 Folsom Blvd.

Maric College Address: 4330 Watt Avenue, Suite 400

Western Career College Address: 8909 Folsom Blvd