Health Bud

For one to be legally allowed to practice the dental assistant profession, he or she must complete a training course and become certified by passing the final exam. In 2002, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation officially approved 259 dental-assisting training programs. Such training programs include classroom, labs and preclinical instruction in dental-assisting skills and related theory. But it's not just theory as students must also obtain practical, on-the-spot experience working in clinics and dental offices. Most of these programs are about 1 year long and the graduation leads to an associate degree. There are also two-year programs held in colleges which also lead to an associate degree. All programs require a high-school diploma and some science or computer-related courses to be admitted.