FAQ

Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are key members of the dental health care team.

Dental assistants work closely with, and under the supervision of, dentists. Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. Dental assistants must be a second pair of hands for a dentist; therefore, dentists look for people who are reliable, work well with others, and have good manual dexterity.

If you have good communication skills, enjoy working with people, and want the responsibility and rewards of a professional career, dental assisting is for you!

The duties of a Dental Assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in a dental office, whether working chairside with the dentist or in the business office. The Dental Assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills.

In smaller practices, the assistant might work with the dentist as well as managing other business aspects of the practice such as scheduling, billing and purchasing. In larger practices, the duties may be more specialized. Many assistants are also qualified to take X-rays. In most dental offices, the dental assistant is in charge of infection control procedures, which are closely regulated by OSHA (the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

Dental assistants sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain patient's dental records. Assistants make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patient's mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. They also instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care.

Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical 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.

Dental assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Those with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-15 Edition, employment of dental assistants is projected to grow by 25 percent through 2022. Which is faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, Dental Assisting is expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the next years.

Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. In addition, as dentists workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures.

The salary of a Dental Assistant depends primarily upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographic location of employment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, median hourly earnings of Dental Assistants were $20.44 in May 2021. The highest 10 percent earned more than $28.63 an hour.

Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to the American Dental Association, 87 percent of dentists offer reimbursement for continuing education courses taken by their assistants.

The Dental Assistant National Board conducted a survey in May 2012, which reported that 85 percent receive paid vacation benefits; 57 percent receive major medical insurance; 61 percent receive a 401(k) or pension plan; 53 percent receive free dental care; 61 percent receive paid sick leave; and 82 percent receive paid holidays.

The only prerequisite for taking the Entry Level Dental Assisting course is a High School Diploma or GED, students do not need previous experience to enroll.

For the EFDA Certification, students need to have completed the Entry Level Dental Assisting course, or have one year work experience in Dental Assisting.

GODAS is a continuing education institution offering non-credit coursework. That said, some colleges may allow students to count GODAS coursework as credits toward a degree.

We encourage you to contact your school to learn more about what requirements they have. We will be happy to do what we can to comply with your institutions policies and requests for information.

You may pay by check, money order or credit card.

Pay in Full — Payment of $2,900 you save $50-$100 extended payment fee.

Installment – Downpayment of $1,400 before class starts with ten weekly installments of $155 due each class day. Total cost using this option is $2,950.

Installment – Downpayment of $1,200 before class starts with ten weekly installments of $180 due each class day. Total cost using this option is $3,000.

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