Dental Assistant Certificate Online
How It Works
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Get Started
Click Get Started to create your account, learn more about MedCerts and get connected to a MedCerts Admissions Advisor.
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Begin Your Program
Utilize MedCert's immersive learning and dynamic exam prep. Get guidance and motivation from your personal Student Success Advisor.
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Get Certified
Use your newly learned knowledge to take your certification exam and gain national credentials.
What You Will Learn
- Demonstrate essential dental assisting skills needed for patient preparation, measurement of vital signs, and four-handed dentistry
- Discuss tooth numbering systems, dental charting, and scheduling patients according to treatment plan
- Explain informed consent and patient education, including oral hygiene instruction and post-treatment care
About the Dental Assistant Online Professional Certificate
As a Dental Assistant you’ll be highly involved in patient interaction, assisting the dental team with procedures and lab duties. You’ll be equipped to handle patient intake, scheduling, taking X-rays, diagnostic testing and more. You may also perform a variety of lab tasks such as coronal polishing, sealant application, fluoride application, and topical anesthetic application.
MedCerts 14-week program Dental Assistant program covers essential soft skills, patient education and chair-side functions, as well as the ins and outs of dental anatomy and morphology, infection control, radiation health safety and radiographic skills, and dental materials. Completion of the training courses qualifies you to sit for RDA certification through the American Medical Technologists (AMT) association.
Dental Assistants are in high demand; there were 121,988 job postings across the US in the last 12 months and the role is expected to continue to grow 10% in the next 10 years.1
1Burning Glass: Labor Insights (Last 12 Months: Feb. 1, 2020 - Jan. 31, 2021)
Courses required for program completion
PS 1011
Healthcare | Self-Paced | 32 hours
This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working in the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered safe and effective care. The purpose of this course is to provide students with soft skills training that will provide the tools needed to demonstrate a higher level of professionalism on the job. Key components of the course focus on patient interaction, proper office behavior, medical ethics, diversity and cultural bias, emotional strength, professional appearance and communication. The course maintains a focus on the key attributes that are true markers of professionalism. This course was created with input from healthcare professionals working in the field, healthcare employers that hire our graduates, professional educators and even former MedCerts students. The end result is a collection of modules that touch on the soft skills that are TRULY important in the real world of allied healthcare. In this course, students are engaged through scenario-based learning that allows for real interaction with virtual co-workers and patients. Additionally, game-based activities keep students engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.DA 3011
Healthcare | Self-Paced | 48 hours
Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings is a comprehensive course detailing infection control practices performed by the dental team within the dental office. Video-based lessons classify infectious diseases, describe how to protect the patient and operator by using personal protective equipment (PPE), explain processes to maintain aseptic conditions to prevent cross-contamination for procedures and services, summarize the steps to process reusable dental instruments, discuss maintenance and documentation of infection control and safety programs and policies, and explain how to document office programs/policies for infection control and safety. Emphasis is placed on recognizing important information on medical history to prevent adverse reactions during dental care, associating occupational safety and guidelines to dental workplace practices, and understanding how to perform proper hand hygiene before, during, and after oral surgery and intraoral procedures. Additionally, the course provides guidance on identifying how standards and workplace controls protect the patient and operator through the reduction of aerosol, droplets, and splatter, as well as how advisory, regulatory, and professional organizations are related to dentistry.DA 3012
Healthcare | Self-Paced | 48 hours
Dental Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology is a comprehensive course detailing essential anatomical, morphological, and physiological knowledge of the head, neck, and oral cavity for the dental assistant. Video-based lessons examine the anatomy and pathology of hard and soft tissues, review the circulatory and lymphatic systems, explore oral cavity anatomy, discuss salivary glands, identify permanent and primary tooth anatomy and morphology, and explain tooth numbering systems, including Universal and Palmer systems. Emphasis is placed on identifying the important head, neck, and oral landmarks, as well as discussing the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems as they relate to the head, neck, and oral cavity. Additionally, the course provides guidance in categorizing dental occlusion and recognizing hard and soft tissue anomalies and tooth anomalies.DA 3013
Healthcare | Self-Paced | 48 hours
Dental Assisting Essentials is a comprehensive course that instructs students in dental assisting knowledge and fundamental clinical skills necessary for becoming an essential member of the dental practice team. Video-based lessons identify important tools and techniques used in clinical chairside dental assisting, explain the purpose and use of dental materials, summarize dental specialties and some key procedures and basic instruments of each, discuss the dental assistant’s role in common medical emergencies, and list drugs commonly prescribed in both dentistry and medicine. Emphasis is placed on understanding dental ethics and law, as well as describing the various topics and opportunities for patient education and recognizing the role of professional communication, customer service, and teamwork in patient care.DA 3014
Healthcare | Self-Paced | 48 hours
Radiation Health and Safety in Dentistry is a comprehensive course that explains patient and operator preparation and safety during radiographic exposures and provides the knowledge necessary to identify best radiographic technique based on patients’ diagnostic needs. Video-based learning lessons classify radiographic equipment based on techniques such as digital and traditional radiography, describe how to acquire radiographic images using various techniques, identify current American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure, identify operator safety measures when acquiring x-rays, describe methods for monitoring operator exposure to x-radiation, and explain infection control procedures for both conventional and digital radiography equipment. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating basic knowledge of both digital and conventional radiology, evaluating radiographic images for diagnostic quality, mounting radiographic images, and describing infection control procedures for both patient and operator safety. Additionally, the course provides guidance in applying quality assurance to all aspects of radiographic imaging and expressing understanding of radiology regulations, as well as applying the principles of radiation protection and hazards when operating radiographic equipment.Complete This Certificate. Get College Credit.
You know that skill-specific courses will open the door to specialized jobs, but did you know that they will also move you closer to a degree at Franklin University?
The University has evaluated hundreds of certifications for industry-recognized proficiencies and awards credit that equates to specific Franklin courses, as well as technical- or elective-credit requirements. See how much time and money you'll save toward your degree by building on prior learning credit.
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What's In a MedCerts Certification Program?
More Than Lectures
Best-in-class programs combine 3D animations, virtual scenarios, interactive games and traditional textbook readings to engage every type of learner.
Virtual Clinical Solutions
Simulations address important clinical skills, gamification challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge in a fun, interactive and engaging way.
National Employer Partner Network
MedCerts students are located across the United States and our certifications are nationally accepted, which is why it's just as important for us to have nationwide healthcare partnerships too of over 1000+ employer partners.
About Medcerts
MedCerts, a Stride company, is a national online training provider strengthening the workforce through innovative e-learning solutions. Focused on certifications in high-demand areas of allied healthcare and IT, MedCerts serves individuals from all backgrounds, including the military and their families, career changers and the under- and unemployed. MedCerts delivers certification and career training through HD-quality video-based instruction, virtual simulations, games and animations, and on-the-job training through experiential learning solutions. Since 2009, the company has developed over 35 career programs, trained and up-skilled more than 35,000 individuals across the country and partnered with over 500 American job centers and more than 1,000 healthcare organizations to build talent pipelines. For more information, visit medcerts.com.
State Regulations
This program does not qualify for Dental Assistant licensing in the state of Montana. Each state’s dental board implements rules and regulations for delegating legally allowable duties to dental assistants. This MedCerts program is aligned with and/or prepares candidates for certification or licensure in each state except Montana.