DENTAL ASSISTANT
Dental assistants are responsible for working directly with dentists while patients receive treatment. They review and maintain patients' charts, pass instruments to the dentist during procedures, sterilize instruments, make temporary crowns and impressions of teeth for study models, polish patients' teeth, and take and develop X-rays. They also assist with tasks such as scheduling appointments and ordering supplies.
Education
A high-school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) is required. Formal training includes an average of 1,230 hours of study in an approved dental-assisting program, which takes 9-12 months. Or, dental assistants may receive on-the-job training and certification in radiography and expanded functions.
Certification
A dental assistant trained in an accredited dental-assisting program receives a certificate. A dental assistant who is trained on-the-job may become certified in expanded duties and radiography by taking approved courses. Qualified dental assistants may receive national certification (CDA) by passing the dental-assisting national board examination.
Availability of Programs
Florida has 25 accredited and 15 Board of Dentistry-approved dental-assisting programs at community colleges, technical centers, or private independent colleges.
Cost of Education
The average cost to complete an accredited dental-assisting training program is $3,500 at an accredited community college, $2,200 at a vocational-technical school and $7,200 at a proprietary school.
Financial Aid
Private, state and federal loans and scholarships are available to qualified applicants.
Job Opportunities
Florida has a shortage of dental assistants. Local dental societies have placement services that help dentists find dental assistants. According to the Florida Agency for Workforce Development, the estimated number of job openings for dental assistants averages around 910 openings per year. The annual growth rate for dental assistants is 3.3 percent -- higher than other health-related occupations. Many opportunities are entry-level positions offering on-the-job training. About 94 percent of all practicing U.S. dentists employ a dental assistant.
Salary
According to the Agency for Workforce Development, the median annual wage or salary for dental assistants was $27,876 in 2005. Entry-level dental assistants averaged $22,177 per year in 2005. Experienced dental assitants average annual salary or wage was $31,177 in 2005. Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting and years of experience.
Benefits
Benefits vary in each dental office. The most commonly offered benefits are paid vacation, and sick leave, medical and hospitalization, reimbursement for continuing-education course fees, pension plans (401K) and profit sharing or bonus plans.
Dental Aide Program
High school students interested in advanced standing in a dental assisting program should contact their guidance counselor to determine if their school has a dental aide program. If not, a dental assisting program in their community may provide dental aide training.
Scholarships
The Florida Dental Health Foundation awards scholarships to needy students enrolled in dental and allied dental education programs. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must complete one grading period in a Florida Board of Dentistry approved program, have a 2.5 GPA and be a Florida resident for two years.
For a scholarship application, contact the FDHF office at (850) 877-9922, Ext. 119, or you also can visit the Florida Dental Heath Foundation web site to download your application(s) here.
ADA ACCREDITED PROGRAMS
These programs have been approved by the American Dental Association.
Americare School of Nursing
7275 Estapona Circle
Fern Park , FL 32730
(407) 673-7406
|
Indian River Community College
3209 Virginia Ave.
Fort Pierce , FL 334981
(772) 462-4700
www.ircc.edu/
|
Brevard Community College
1519 Clear Lake Road
Cocoa , FL 32922
(321)433-7575
www.brevardcc.edu/
|
Lindsey Hopkins Technical
Education Center
750 N.W. 20th St .
Miami , FL 33127
(305) 324-6070, Ext. 7084
|
Broward Community College
3501 S.W. Davie Road
Fort Lauderdale , FL 33314
(954) 201-6904
www.broward.edu/
|
Manatee Technical Institute
5520 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
Bradenton , FL 34211
(941) 752-8100, Ext. 227
|
| Central Florida Community College
3001 S.W. College Road
Ocala , FL 34474
(352) 854-2322 |
Robert Morgan Educational Center
18180 S.W. 122nd Ave.
Miami , FL 33177
(305) 253-9920, Ext. 2212
|
Charlotte Technical Center
18300 Toledo Blade Blvd.
Port Charlotte , FL 33948
(941) 255-7500, Ext. 140 |
Okaloosa/Walton
Community College
100 College Blvd.
Niceville , FL 32578
(850) 729-6444
|
Daytona Beach Community College
U.S. 92 Welch Blvd., P.O. Box 1111
Daytona Beach , FL 32019
(386) 785-2093
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Orlando Technical Center
301 W. Amelia St .
Orlando , FL 32801
(407) 246-7060, Ext. 4923
|
| Edison Community College
8099 College Parkway S.W.
Fort Myers , FL 33919
(239) 985-8322
www.edison.edu/
|
Palm Beach Community College
3160 PGA Blvd.
Palm Beach Gardens , FL 33410
(561) 868-3752
www.pbcc.edu/
|
D.G. Erwin Technical Center
2010 E. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa , FL 33610
(813) 231-1800 |
Pensacola Junior College
5555 W. Highway 98
Pensacola , FL 32507
(850) 484-2244
www.pjc.edu/
|
| Florida Community College
at Jacksonville
4501 Capper Road
Jacksonville , FL 32218 (904)766-6655 |
Pinellas Technical
Education Center
901 34th St. S.
St. Petersburg , FL 33711
(727) 893-2500, Ext. 107
|
Gulf Coast Community College
5230 W. Highway 98
Panama City , FL 32401
(850) 769-1551, Ext. 5832
www.gulfcoast.edu/ |
Santa Fe Community College
3000 N.W. 83rd St .
Gainesville , FL 32606
(352) 395-5705
www.sfcc.edu/
|
Hillsborough Community College
4001 Tampa Bay Blvd.
Tampa , FL 33606
(813) 253-7279
www.hccfl.edu
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South Florida Community College
600 W. College Drive
Avon Park , FL 33825
(863) 784-7021
www.sfcc.cc.fl.us/
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Tallahassee Community College
444 Appleyard Drive
Tallahassee , FL 32304
(850) 201-6095
www.tcc.cc.fl.us/ |
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FLORIDA STATE BOARD of DENTISTRY APPROVED EXPANDED DUTY/RADIOLOGY PROGRAMS
These programs have been approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry to provide expanded duties and radiology courses to meet the formal training requirement specified in Rule 64B5-16, Florida Administrative Code.
Advanced Career Training
7600 Phillips Highway, #14
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 737-6911 |
Miami Institute of Medical Technology
7483 SW 24th St., #211
Miami, Florida 33155
(305) 269-9964 |
Central Florida Institute
30522 U.S. Highway 19 N., Ste. 200
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 786-47047 |
New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach Inc.
2410 Metrocentre Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 842-8324 |
Concorde Career Institute Inc.
7960 Arlington Expressway
Jacksonville, FL 32211
(904) 725-0525 |
Pasco-Hernando Community College
10230 Ridge Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654-5199
(727) 816-3200 |
Concorde Career Institute Inc.
4202 W. Spruce St.
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 874-0094 |
Sanford Brown Institute
4780 N. State Road 7 / Bldg. E., Ste. 100
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
(954) 733-8900 |
Concorde Career Institute Inc.
4000 N. State Road 7
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319-9893
(954) 731-8880 |
South Florida School of Dental Services
7301-A W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 203-A
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(954) 752-5967; (954) 895-0312; (754) 245-3887 |
Dental Assisting Institute
P.O. Box 21517
St. Petersburg, FL 33742-1517
(727) 547-8233 |
The School of Health Careers
3190 N. State Road Seven
Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
(954) 777-0083 |
Dental Assisting Training Schools (DATS)
1614 Southwest Lakeview Drive
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 382-9947 or (970) 925-9180 |
Vocational Institute of Florida
1849 W. Flagler Street
Miami, Florida 33135
(305) 643-6111 |
Florida Community College-Jacksonville
4501 Capper Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
(904) 713-4856 |
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FLORIDA STATE BOARD of DENTISTRY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
These institutions have been approved by the Board of Dentistry to offer expanded functions and/or radiography certification for dental assistants trained on the job.
Dental Assisting Institute
P.O. Box 21517
St. Petersburg, FL 33742-1517
(727) 547-8233 |
South Florida School of Dental Services
7301-A W. Palmetto Park Road, Ste. 203-A
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(954) 752-5967; (954) 895-0312; (754) 245-3887 |
Dental Assisting Services
White Wolf Dental Group
1221 Dunlawton Ave.
Port Orange, FL 32127
(386) 446-8865 |
University of Florida
College of Dentistry - Continuing Education Department
P.O. Box 100417, JHMHC
Gainesville, FL 32610
(352) 392-4355 |
Health Careers Institute Inc.
(radiology only)
4047 Okeechobee Boulevard, #224
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
(561) 615-9901 |
West Coast Dental Certifications
1532 Oakfield Drive, Ste. B
Brandon, FL 33511
(813) 831-4522, Ext. 226 |
OTHER CONTACTS
Florida Dental Assistants Association
7762 NW 58th Way
Parkland, FL 33067
Phone: (863) 533-2185
Fax: (863) 668-980
