Dental Assisting

Central Piedmont offers a diploma in dental assisting, typically completed over three semesters. The college catalog lists the dental assisting program options, courses, eligibility, and requirements currently available at Central Piedmont.

The dental assisting diploma is designed for direct entry into the respective field. If you would like information on opportunities to transfer associate degree credit to a four-year institution, please visit the Transfer Resource Center.

In-person classes, labs, and clinicals are held on the Central Campus.

Transfer into the program from another dental assisting program is at the discretion of the dental assisting program chair and is dependent on space availability. You must be currently enrolled in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program or have left the program in “good standing” as verified by the program director.

• Only coursework for which a grade of “C” or higher was earned may be transferred to the dental assisting program. Time limits, as recorded on the dental assisting application, may require repeat of a course or courses.
• Previously-taken coursework will be evaluated by the transcript evaluator. Dental assisting courses that are not directly transferred by the transcript evaluator may be reviewed for transfer by the program director. Course content and credit hours must be equal to or greater than the required course. You may be asked to clarify course content.
• The program chair may allow you to complete “Credit by Exam” if previously taken dental assisting course content and hours are equal to or greater than the required course. 
• You may be required to audit all or a portion of a course which has been transferred, depending on the date of the completion of the course and your work experience in the topic or skill.
• The program will award no greater than ten hours of transfer of credit in dental assisting coursework unless special circumstances apply.

In addition to regular tuition and fees, there are laboratory fees assigned to courses with a lab/clinical component. Additional costs include textbooks, workbooks, medical fees for a physical exam, and drug screening and immunizations.

Total dental assisting program estimated costs

This estimate includes the cost of the three certification exams that make up the Certified Dental Assistant credential.

The dental assisting program at Central Piedmont is accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Commission on Dental Accreditation   
211 East Chicago Ave.   
Chicago, IL 60611    
telephone: 312-440-4653
email: coda@ada.org  
website: www.coda.ada.org  

After completion of a diploma program, you are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination for certification. (Employers often require certification.)  

Clinical:

• Performs various supportive treatments
• Assists dentist with exams and procedures
• Maintains treatment areas
• Provides patient with pre- and post-operative instructions from dentist
• Offers education on oral hygiene

Administrative:

• Handles office procedures including managing telephones, setting appointments, performing transactions (including insurance), and maintaining inventory
• Collects diagnostic data, patient history, and related information

The dental assisting diploma at Central Piedmont can be completed in three semesters. 

Dental assistants often work in a dentist’s office or related specialty facilities.   

Assistants:

• Obtain patient dental records and history
• Handle business office procedures
• Interact with patients, take vital signs, and provide instructions on proper care
• Work closely with the dentist with occasional independence; are responsible for instruments and tools during procedures
• Must complete a diploma program

Hygienists:

• Clean and polish teeth
• Take and interpret x-rays
• Assess patients’ oral health
• Work independently with assistance from the dentist
• Must earn an associate degree 
   

For up-to-date information on dental assistant salaries, please visit Central Piedmont's Career Coach.