Dental Assistant Program Overview

Your Rewarding Dental Career Starts at Howard Healthcare Academy

If you want a rewarding career, sooner is better than later. At Howard Healthcare Academy, you have the opportunity to complete our dental assistant program in as little as 10 months and become eligible to take the State exam to be a registered dental assistant. Howard Academy conveniently allows you to go to class and complete your externship at one of our onsite or affiliated working dental offices. Our dental assistant program and externship help you prepare for your new career. Plus, as part of your education, Howard Healthcare Academy assists with your job search by providing interviewing and career tips as well as access to our network of dentists.

With a robust network of dentists, Howard Academy works with our students to give them hiring tips and resources to assist them in searching for employment after earning their dental assistant certificate.

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Become a registered dental assistant in extended functions (RDAEF)
For RDAs who are looking for more opportunity and higher pay, Howard Healthcare Academy offers a California Board-approved, six-month course to prepare you to sit for the State exam to become a licensed RDAEF. As an RDAEF, you will be able to perform additional duties in the dental office above and beyond a registered dental assistant.

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Earn your Orthodontic Assistance Permit (OAP)
In 84 hours, you can complete the OAP course at Howard Healthcare Academy and be eligible to sit for your written State exam. Learn to perform orthodontic skills in addition to dental assisting responsibilities. Expand your knowledge base and competency to become more diverse and valuable to your employer.

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Standalone certificate courses

Dental and orthodontic assistants are required to be in compliance to work in California. Howard Healthcare Academy offers standalone certificate courses approved by the Dental Board of California that are mandatory to work as a dental assistant or orthodontic assistant in a dental office. Other certification courses are offered for dental professionals who would like to acquire additional skills and responsibilities. Continuing education courses allow dental professionals to stay current with today’s standards and advance their careers. Earn dental assistant continuing education units (CEUs) at Howard Academy.

Continuing Education

• CPR (4 hours)
• California Dental Practice Act (2 hours)
• 2-Hour Infection Control (2 hours)
• Coronal Polish (12 hours)
• Pit and Fissure Sealants (16 hours)

Certificate Courses

• 8-Hour Infection Control Certification
• Ultrasonic Scaling
• Orthodontic Assistant Permit (OAP)
• Dental Radiation Safety/X-ray Certification

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and Dental Assistant (DA) Skills

• Dental Impressions
• Intra and Extra Oral Photos
• Orthodontic Diagnostic Records
• Facebow Transfers
• Denture Adjustment (RDA Duty)
• Dental Radiology
• Coronal Polishing (RDA Duty)
• Pit and Fissure Sealants (RDA Duty)
• Provisional Restorations (RDA Duty)
• Sterilization/Infection Control
• Chairside Assisting
• Construct Bleaching Trays
• Patient Monitoring While Sedated
• Dental Front Office

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