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Health Science Training

Dental Assistant

Classes Start 7/21! Get in touch today!

Shine in Your Career with Centura College’s Dental Assistant Program

Are you curious about becoming a Dental Assistant? Centura College’s comprehensive Dental Assistant Diploma program equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to excel in this rewarding field.

  • Diploma
  • Program length: 12 months
  • Day courses: between 8:30am – 4:30pm
  • Night courses: between 4:30pm – 11:30pm
Request Info

Not sure you’re ready?
Take our short Career Readiness Quiz

A Centura College dental assistant program student practicing teeth cleaning on another student

Campus Options

Chesapeake, VA

Become a dental assistant

A Clean Pathway to Success

Prepare for a dynamic role in a dental office with Centura College’s curriculum. As a Dental Assistant, you’ll perform a variety of functions, including assisting the Dentist during chairside procedures, processing X-rays, preparing dental instruments for patient treatment, and educating patients on oral hygiene and care.

Understanding the Role of a Dental Assistant

Our Dental Assistant training program hones your expertise in laboratory duties including:

  • Creating temporary crowns
  • Dentures and bridges
  • Other dental products

Additionally, you’ll learn office functions like:

  • Scheduling appointments
  • Receiving patients
  • Processing payments and bills
  • Ordering supplies

Explore a World of Career Opportunities

A career as a Dental Assistant can be incredibly rewarding. Dentists and patients alike rely on Dental Assistants for efficient office operations and smooth chairside procedures. In Virginia and across the United States, the job market for Dental Assistants offers numerous growth and employment opportunities according to the U.S. Bureau of National Labor Statistics, with job outlook growing at a faster than average rate of 7% from 2022 to 2032.

Program Duration and Content

In just 48 weeks, our Dental Assistant program offers 42 credit hours through 14 courses, including:
  • Dental Emergency Management

  • Dental Psychology

  • Dental Radiology

  • Dental Specialties

Dental Emergency Management

Dental Emergency Management is designed to familiarize students with recognizing and addressing common emergencies within a dental office setting. This course details a spectrum of emergency scenarios and corresponding topics including:
  • Obstructed airways (choking
  • Unconscious patients
  • Chest pain, stroke and breathing problems
  • Allergic reactions, seizures, and diabetic emergencies
  • How to measure blood pressure, temperatures, pulse, and respirations
  • Infant, child and adult CPR with AED certification

Dental Psychology

In Dental Psychology, delve into the examination of psychological factors influencing dental patient behavior. Students will gain familiarity with strategies to address and alleviate fears and anxieties related to dentistry, along with an emphasis on fostering effective team building within the dental practice. Among the subjects covered:
  • Communication skills for patient interaction
  • Approaches to patients with specific psychiatric and medical conditions
  • Knowledge and sensitivity required for diverse patient scenarios

Dental Radiology

The Dental Radiology course equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the application of dental radiography. Emphasizing the critical aspects of the biological effects of radiation and safety precautions, students learn:
  • Proper utilization of dental X-ray film and the X-ray machine
  • Film processing procedure
  • Principles of intraoral/extraoral radiography
  • How to obtain radiographs
  • Performance of digital radiograph

Dental Specialties

In the Dental Specialties course, students learn a comprehensive introduction to the diverse field of dental specialties. Special focus is given to the legal tasks that dental assistants can perform while providing crucial support in a specialized dental office. This course also covers the intricacies of specialties including:
  • Orthodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Endodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Oral surgery

Financial Aid: Your Ticket to Education

We understand that money can be a big concern when it comes to getting an education, but we’re here to help. We offer financial assistance programs for eligible students.

Before you take that next step of enrolling, we strongly recommend first scheduling a meeting with one of our Financial Aid Advisors. They will guide you through all the different financial aid options available. Plus, they’ll lend a hand in filling out your applications.

Career Support: Navigating Your Path to Success

We want to see you reach your career goals after you graduate from the dental assistant training program. Our Career Services Department is here to lend a hand to current students and graduates in need of job placement support. The department provides services like resume writing, polishing up your interviewing skills, and assisting you through your job searching.

Success Stories

“I know my students on a personal level. I know their stories individually, why they’re here, what they want to do…I just love to see people win.”

– Tiffany Brent, Dental Assisting Instructor

Centura instructor Tiffany Brent
Centura College Chesapeake campus

Explore Centura Chesapeake Campus: Where Your Dreams Take Shape

The Dental Assistant program is offered at our campus in Chesapeake, Virginia. The campus consists of a 27,000-square-foot facility across two buildings with various amenities, including Wi-Fi, computer labs, lecture halls, and specialized labs for hands-on training. Centura College has a long history of career training since 1969, committed to providing students with educational tools and support.

Enroll with Ease

Starting your journey at Centura College is simple. 

Ready to jumpstart your career in the dentistry industry? Apply now for our Dental Assistant program! For more information about our skilled trades programs, feel free to contact our campus offices

Enrollment process step one

First Step

Complete an interest form & Schedule a Meeting with Us.

Enrollment process step two

Second Step

Come in for a career planning session & fill out an application

Enrollment process step three

Third Step

Get your acceptance letter* & meet with a Financial Advisor & Explore Scholarships

Enrollment process step four

Fourth Step

Attend orientation & start your dental program

*Applicants must meet admission requirements. Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.

We also offer financial aid and scholarships to those who qualify. For any questions or assistance, please contact us at 877-523-9528.

Program Requirements

Students enrolling in the Dental Assistant program need to meet the following requirements:

  • Be 18 or older or have an approved cosigner if under 18
  • Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
  • Have a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport

Articles + Events

Ready to achieve your career goals? You have our support all the way.

Let us get you the information you need and answer any questions you may have along the way.

Request more information

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Centura College Allied Health and Trades
Administrative offices located at:
4455 South Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
877-523-9528
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