What is a Dental Assistant (DA)?
The typical day of a Dental Assistant often involves a variety of activities, such as greeting and seating patients, preparing and sterilizing the room and instruments for treatment, taking dental radiographs, assisting the dentist with procedures, and giving patients post-treatment care instructions. Most Dental Assistants work in a general dental practice, but if you work in a specialty practice, you may have the opportunity to perform more specific and complex duties. (Source: Dental Assisting National Board)
Why choose this program?
The DA Pathways Program combines on-the-job learning with online, self-paced modules to gain the basic skills needed to work as a DA within 4-6 months. This is a work-based program that helps you grow in your career by covering the basics, including infection control, dental radiography, dental anatomy, and the performance of entry-level functions. This standardized curriculum was developed by the DALE Foundation, the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)-affiliated organization. The curriculum and on-the-job checklists have been reviewed by dental leadership at Nebraska community health centers.
Who is the program for?
- Community members interested in exploring a career in Dental Assisting at a community health center
- Health center staff interested in gaining a new qualification
- Entry-Level Dental Assistants interested in completing the on-the-job training and standardized online modules
What to Expect:
- Mentorship and preceptorship throughout the program
- On-the-job skills training
- Online self-paced program
- Includes short on-demand videos, readings, quizzes and practice exams
- Board exam preparation
- The DALE Foundation’s online curriculum will set staff up for success if they choose to sit for their Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam.