Dental Assisting

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can help improve people’s smiles? As a dental assistant, you’ll play an essential role when it comes to handling patient care and supporting dental practices. The School of Dental Assisting at Delta Technical College (DTC) gives you the hands-on dental assistant training you need to start a new career in the dental field!

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Daytime classes available

What Makes DTC's Dental Assisting Program Different?

Gear

Hands-On Focused

Labs designed to simulate real dental work environments

9 months training

Accelerated Training

Earn your Dental Assisting diploma in just 9 months

Experienced Instructors

Experienced Instructors

All Dental Assisting instructors have real-world experience

dental assistant programs in mississippi
Evening Classes

Daytime Classes Available

Flexible class times that work for your busy schedule

Employment Preparation

Employment Preparation

No general education courses required, students will learn the skills required for entry-level employment

Career Placement

Career Placement

Career counseling & placement assistance is available to all qualified graduates

dental assisting schools in mississippi

The School of Dental Assisting at Delta Technical College

Dental assistants work chairside with the dentist to assist with patient procedures, as well as provide clerical support to help keep the dental office running efficiently. At DTC’s dental assistant trade school, you’ll gain the experience and the skills you need to start working as a dental assistant alongside dentists and hygienists.

DTC’s Dental Assisting Program in Mississippi is taught by instructors with years of experience in the field, who will teach you valuable skills through both hands-on lab and classroom instruction. The Dental Assisting Program ends with Externship, where you’ll take the skills you’ve been taught in the lab and apply them in-the-field at a dental office sitting side-by-side with a dentist. DTC’s dental assistant schools in MS (Horn Lake and Ridgeland) will help you gain the skills and experience you need to begin a new career as a dental assistant!

HANDS-ON DENTAL ASSISTING CLASSES

Radiographs & Impressions | Equipment Sterilization | Lab Work | X-Ray Procedures | Patient Education

Students are provided a one year membership to ADAA (American Dental Assistants Association). ADAA provides Dental Assistants with information on how to prepare for recertification and to be compliant with state registration. 

As a student at one of DTC’s dental assistant schools in Mississippi, you’ll be trained in both clinical & administrative duties, including:

  • Infection Control
  • Restorative Dentistry & Dental Charting
  • Prosthodontics & Dental Office Lab
  • Dental Radiology & Office Administration
  • Dental Specialties & Preventative Dentistry
  • Employment Preparation & Review and Externship

Dental Assistant Certification

For dental assistant certification, students at the Ridgeland, MS campus are required to take two of the three DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) certification exams: RHS (Radiology Health & Safety) and ICE (Infection Control Exam).

Dental Radiology Seminar

If you’re interested in further specialization within this profession, DTC offers a continuing education option in dental radiology.

Ready to Learn More?

Ready to learn more about DTC’s hands-on training programs? Give us a call or fill out the form to get more information.

Financial Assistance

DTC Financial Aid

DTC’s Financial Aid Team provides personalized support to students applying for federal financial aid and help with understanding all the funding options, including scholarship opportunities.


Scholarship Opportunities

DTC Scholarships

DTC is here to help you attain the funding you need to take the next step in your education. DTC’s Financial Aid Team can help match you with scholarship opportunities you may qualify for.


Start Your Career as a Dental Assistant

Dental assisting is often seen as a rewarding career path, because you get to help educate patients who may have struggled with oral hygiene and teach them the importance of oral health. Dental assisting is a growing field as a result of the population living longer and advancements in procedures, treatments, prevention, and cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for dental assistants will increase by 8% from 2021 to 2031, with an average of 56,400 openings projected each year over the decade. 

Most dental assistants work in a dentist’s office, but some work in military bases or hospitals. Dental assistants must have both clinical and clerical skills in order to assist dentists and dental hygienists, as well as work with patients. Common duties include assisting with lab and x-ray procedures, preparing patients for treatments and procedures, sterilizing instruments, handing equipment to the dentist, keeping records of dental treatments, scheduling patient appointments, and more. Dental assistant training schools like DTC also prepare you for dental assistant certification.

DENTAL ASSISTING RTLM

Ready to Learn More?

Ready to learn more about DTC’s hands-on training programs? Give us a call or fill out the form to get more information.

Get Started

Find Dental Assistant Classes Near You

Find an accredited dental assisting training program in Mississippi at one of DTC’s two campus locations.

Dental Assisting Program Overview

Length:
9 months (35 weeks)
When:
Daytime classes available
Hours:
765 clock hours (includes 225 externship hours) / 135 additional outside clock hours
Completion:
Diploma
Credits:
26.5 semester credits

Quick Facts: Dental Assisting Program

A dental assistant is important to the successful flow of work at a dentist’s office because their role often includes administrative and clinical responsibilities. These tasks can include electronic record keeping, keyboarding, billing, coding, insurance claims, scheduling, and acting as a patient liaison and educator on behalf of the dental practice where they are employed. They must also have training in and be comfortable with clinical skills including assisting the dentist during exams, x-rays, lab work, sterilizing instruments, and performing basic four-handed dentistry, among many other daily tasks.

To learn more, check out: What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

The median annual wage for dental assistants was $44,820 in May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Annual wages typically depend on several factors including your location.

The Dental Assisting Program at Delta Technical Institute (DTC) prepares you for entry-level careers in a dentist’s office, which is the most common employer of dental assistants, according to the BLS. Dental assistants may also work at hospitals or on military bases. Job titles can include clinical dental assistant, dental laboratory assistant, or dental office administrative assistant.

Some dental assistants choose to specialize by working with oral surgeons or in geriatric and pediatric specialties, but the scope of practice for a dental assistant varies by state. For example, some states allow dental assistants to polish teeth or apply sealants, fluoride, or topical anesthetic, while other states may require additional training or certifications.

As the population continues to live longer and there are advancements in treatments, prevention, procedures, and cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry, the dental profession will continue to evolve and grow. The BLS predicts the job outlook for dental assistants will increase by 7% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average (3%).

For more information on DTC program costs, please contact Financial Aid or visit Tuition & Cost.

Check out the Dental Assisting FAQ for the answers to frequently asked questions about dental assistants!

Enrollment & Outcomes

Enrollment and outcome information for all Mississippi-based campuses and the ACCSC annual reports for each program in Adobe PDF format. Please note, all programs are not offered at all campuses. For annual details, please visit our dental assisting enrollment and outcomes page.

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Accreditations

  • DTC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges (ACCSC).
  • DTC is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in federally-funded financial aid programs.
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges

Delta Technical College is licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration, Certificate No. C-624. Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality. Delta Technical College is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality.

Delta Technical College is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.