FDA: Careers: Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants
Dental Hygienists
Lab Technicians
Dentists

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 (800) 877-9922, Ext. 7119, or you also can visit the Florida Dental Heath Foundation web site to download your application(s) here.

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	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	South Florida Community College 600 W. College Drive Avon Park , FL 33825 (863) 784-7021 www.sfcc.cc.fl.us/
Tallahassee Community College 444 Appleyard Drive Tallahassee , FL 32304 (850) 201-6095 www.tcc.cc.fl.us/

AAA School of Dental Assisting 2415 South French Avenue Sanford , FL 32771 407/324-0960 www.aaa.soda.com	Future Dental Assistants of America 537 US Hwy 1, Suite 1 North Palm Beach , FL 33408 (407) 478-0206
Advanced Career Training Beth Herr, Executive Director 3563 Phillips Hwy , Bldg C Ste 300 Jacksonville , FL 32207 904/737-6911	Future Smiles Dental Assisting School Debbie Tacy-Program Contact 250 Professional Way Wellington , FL 33414 561/798-1600
All Smiles Dental Assisting, Inc. 712 US Hwy One #220 N. Palm Beach , FL 33408 561/881-5244 (Dr. Scott Duff) www.asdas.biz	Greater Orlando Dental Assisting School 1012 State Road 436 Casselberry , FL 32707-5722 561/374-4542
Angley College 1700 S. Woodland Blvd. Deland , FL 32720 386/740-1215 x161 www.angley.edu	High Tech Institute 3710 Maguire Blvd. Orlando , FL 32803 407/893-7454 or 7400 www.hightechinstitute.edu
ATI College of Health 1395 NW 167 th St . Miami , FL 33169 305/628-1000	International Institute for Health Care Professionals, Inc. 600 S Dixie Highway, Ste 211 Boca Raton , FL 33432 561/394-5822
Atlantic Technical Center 4700 Coconut Creek Parkway Coconut Creek , FL 33065 754/321-5200	Lincoln College of Technology (“ New England”) 2410 Metrocentre Blvd. West Palm Beach , FL 33407 561/681-5043 www.lincolntech.com
Bay Area Dental Assisting School, Inc. 7650 38 th Ave. N. St. Petersburg , FL 33710 727/343-8831 info@bayareadas.com www.BayAreaDAS.com	Lincoln Technical Institute ( formerly Americare) 7275 Estapona Circle Fern Park , FL 32730 407/673-7406 www.Americareschools.com
Central Florida College 1573 W. Fairbanks Ave Suite 100 Winter Park , FL 32789	Lincoln Technical Institute (formerly Americare) St. Petersburg Campus 5335 66 th St. N St. Petersburg , FL 33709 305/269-9964 www.Americareschools.com
Central Florida Institute Inc Olivia T. Fields, School Director 30522 US Hwy 19. Ste 300 Palm Harbor , FL 34684 727/786-4707 www.cfinstitute.com	Meridian Career Institute- Sarasota 7020 Professional Pkwy E. Suite 200 Sarasota , FL 34240
Concorde Career Institute Dr. Louis Janowitz, Director 7960 Arlington Expressway, Ste 120 Jacksonville , FL 32211 904/725-0525 www.concorde.edu	Meridian Career Institute- Tampa 9503 Princess Palm Avenue Tampa , FL 33619
Concorde Career Institute Alphia Parker, Contact 10933 Marks Way Miramar , FL 33025 954/731-8880 www.concorde.edu	Miami Institute of Medical Technology 7483 SW 24 th St., #211 Miami , FL 33194 www.MiamiInstitute.com
Concorde Career Institute John Santo, Contact 3444 McCrory Place Orlando , FL 32803 (407) 812-3060 www.concorde.edu	North Florida Institute DA Program 560 Wells Rd. Orange Park , FL 32073 904/269-7086
Concorde Career Institute Geraldine Hernandez, Director 4202 W. Spruce St . Tampa , FL 33607 ghernandez@concorde.edu www.concorde.edu	Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine 3200 S. University Dr . Ft. Lauderdale , FL 33328 800/356-0026 x5327 dentalce@nova.edu
Dental Assistant Academy of Ft. Lauderdale 301 SE 16 th St . Ft. Lauderdale , FL 33316 954/462-5252 billiej12003@yahoo.com	Pasco-Hernando Community College 10230 Ridge Rd. New Port Richey, FL 34654 727/816-3423 or 727/816-3224 www.phcc.edu
Dental Assisting Career Centers 15127 Jog Road Suite #100 Delray Beach , FL 33446	Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy Dental Assisting Program 18160 Collins Avenue, Suite # 1 Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 (305) 395-3458; www.phabsa.com
Dental Assisting Institute Ronda S. Cauchon, RDH 4326 Park Blvd. Ste. C-West Pinellas Park , FL 33781 727/547-4899 www.dai-fl.com	Professional Training Center of Miami, FL 13926 SW 47 th Street Miami , FL 33175 305/220-4120
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 7280 W. Palmetto Park Rd. Ste 206 Boca Raton, FL 33409 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Remington College 6302 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tampa , FL 33619 813/932-0701
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) N 5150 East Bay Dr . Clearwater , FL 33764 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Sanford Brown Institute- Ft. Lauderdale 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ft. Lauderdale , FL 33309 888/742-0333 http://www.sbftlauderdale.com/
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 7011 Cypress Terrace Ste.101 Fort Myers , FL 33907 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Sanford Brown Institute- Jacksonville 10255 Fortune Parkway, Suite 500 Jacksonville, FL 32256 888/577-5333 http://www.sbjacksonville.com/
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 1400 NE Miami Gardens Dr. Ste. 215 N. Miami Beach , FL 33179 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Sanford Brown Institute-Orlando 5959 Lake Ellenor Drive Orlando , FL 32809 877/770-3677 http://www.sanfordbrownorlando.com/
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd. Orlando , FL 32810 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Sanford Brown Institute- Tampa 5701 Hillsborough Ave. Tampa , FL 33610 813/496-2734 or 888/450-0333 http://www.sbtampa.com/
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 1125 South University Dr . Plantation , FL 33324 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	School of Health Careers (American Institute) 3190 North State Rd. 7 Lauderdale Lakes , FL 33319 954/777-0083 www.schoolofhealth.edu
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 11203 N 56 th St. Ste D Temple Terrace , FL 33617 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	Smile Smart Dental Assisting School 7270 East 55 th Avenue Bradenton , FL 34203 941/752-4373 http://www.smilesmartdentalcare.com/
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 1920 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd Ste 104 West Palm Beach, FL 33409 941/773-7283 www.dats.net	South Florida Dental Assisting School 4001 N Ocean Dr. Ste #301 Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 33308 954/445-1085 http://www.sfdaschool.com/index.php
Dental Assisting Training Schools Inc. (DATS) 8640 State Rd. 70, Ste D. Bradenton , FL 34202 941/756-3410 www.dats.net	South Florida District Dental Association (Radiography only) 420 S. Dixie Highway, Ste 2-E Coral Gables , FL 33146 305/667-3647 (Jackie) Jackie.sfdda@gmail.com
Dental Careers of the Treasure Coast 1818 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd. Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 772/398-4680 www.dentalcareerstc.com	Technical Career Institute 7757 West Flagler St., Suite 230 Miami , FL 33144 (305) 261-5511
E-Dental Assisting Academy 6019 Seminole Blvd. Seminole , FL 33772 727/319-6019 www.edentalonline.com	Ultimate Medical Academy 9309 N. Florida Ave, #100 Tampa , FL 33612 813/676-2245 http://studymedical.com/
Everest University 1199 East Bay Dr . Largo , FL 33770 727/725-2699 www.everestuniversity.com	University of Florida, College of Dentistry Continuing Dental Education Department PO Box 100417 Gainesville , FL 32610-0417 352/273-8480 www.dentalufl.edu/CE
Everest University Pamela Tate-Director 8226 Phillips Hwy. Jacksonville , FL 32256 904/731-4949 x159 www.everestuniversity.com	Ultimate Medical Academy 9309 N. Florida Ave, #100 Tampa , FL 33612 813/676-2245 http://studymedical.com/
Florida Community College-Jacksonville Jeffrey R. Smith, DMD 4501 Capper Rd. , Rm 314 Jacksonville , FL 32218 904/766-6655 www.fccj.com or email: jesmith@fccj.edu	University of Florida, College of Dentistry Continuing Dental Education Department PO Box 100417 Gainesville , FL 32610-0417 352/273-8480 www.dentalufl.edu/CE
Florida Education Center – Lauderhill 1299B NW 40 th Ave Lauderhill , FL 33313 954/797-6140 www.floridaeducationcenter.com	Valencia Community College 1800 S. Kirkman Road , Mail Code 4-14 Orlando, FL 32811 407/582-1793 http://valencia.cc.fl.us
Fortis Institute ( formerly Capps) Kathleen Cole-Campus Director 4081 E Olive, Ste B Pensacola , FL 32514 850/476-7607 www.fortiscollege.com	Vocational Institute of Florida PO Box 558961 Miami , FL 33255 305/200-9379

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