Florida Archives - Dental Assistant Schools

How to Become a Dental Assistant in Valrico Florida

Valrico FL dental assistant working with dentist Selecting the ideal dental assistant school near Valrico FL is an essential first step toward starting your new career in dentistry. But prior to making your choice, you need to analyze and compare your school options. There is far more to performing your due diligence than choosing the dental assistant training with the most affordable tuition or enrolling in the one that is closest to your residence. There are other significant issues to take into account as well, for instance the college’s accreditation and reputation. Your initial step is to decide which of the two credentials you are most interested in getting training for, which may depend on the amount of money and time that you have to commit. The most common dental assistant program normally takes about 1 year to finish for a diploma or certificate. Meanwhile dental assistants may also earn an Associate Degree, which can take anywhere from 2 to 3 years to finish. Obviously with the longer training comes more cost. We will explore all of these concerns and additional questions that you should be asking the dental assistant schools you are analyzing later in this article. But first, let’s look at the roles of dental assistants and further discuss the training options offered.

The Job of Dental Assistants in Valrico FL

Valrico FL dental assistant and oral surgeon Dental assistants are an indispensable part of any Valrico FL dental practice and can carry out a myriad of functions. Their principal job description is to give assistance to the admin staff and the dentists. In other words, to help keep the practice operating efficiently. A number of dental assistants opt to specialize and receive certification in a specific area, for example orthodontics. Even so most assistants carry out any job that they are asked to complete, such as:

Scheduling and verifying appointments
Prepping patients for teeth treatments and cleanings
Sterilizing and preparing dental instruments
Clearing patients’ mouths with suction equipment
Giving instruments to dentists during procedures
Preparing X-ray machines and handling X-rays
Ordering dental and office supplies

Licensing and certification requirements for dental assistants vary by state, so check with the Florida dental board for your state’s mandates. Assistants handling X-ray machines more than likely will have to be certified and licensed. A large number of dental assistants who are either required or choose to become certified take the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam provided by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Dental Assistant Training Programs near Valrico FL

Dental assistant programs are offered at Florida junior colleges along with trade or vocational schools. As previously mentioned, the most frequent credential earned is the certificate, which ordinarily takes about 1 year to complete. There are fewer Associate Degree programs offered, and they furnish a more extensive education, incorporating general subjects in addition to the dental assisting courses. These programs can require anywhere from two to as long as three years to complete and must be accredited by the CDA in nearly every state. They are also offered in Florida community colleges and technical schools. Regardless of whether you are interested in earning a certificate or a degree as a dental assistant, there will be a clinical aspect to the training also. A number of programs also offer internships with Valrico FL dental practices or dentists.

Online Dental Assistant Programs

attending dental assistant school online in Valrico FL Choosing an online dental assistant school might be a viable option for obtaining your training. Just keep in mind that the classes will not be completely online, since there will be a clinical component to your training. But the balance of your classes will be provided via your personal computer in the comfort of your Valrico FL home or elsewhere on your tablet or laptop. For those continuing to work while attending college, online dental classes make education much more obtainable. Many may even have lower tuition costs than their traditional counterparts. And added expenses such as for books, school supplies and commuting may be lessened as well. The practical training can usually be completed at an area dental office or in an on-campus lab. With both the online and clinical training, everything needed to receive the proper education is provided. If you have the discipline for this method of education, you might find that enrolling in an dental hygienist online school is the right choice for you.

What to Cover With Dental Assistant Colleges

Valrico FL dental assistant with dentist and patient After you have decided on the dental specialty and kind of credential you would like to attain, you can begin the process of comparing Florida programs and schools. As we covered at the start of this article, a number of prospective students begin by looking at the location and the cost of the schools. Perhaps they search for some online options as well. Even though these are important initial points to consider, there are a few additional questions that you should address to the Valrico FL area programs you are comparing in order to arrive at an informed decision. To start that process, we have furnished a list of questions to assist you with your due diligence and ultimate selection of the best dental hygienist school for you.

Is the Dental Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of important reasons why you should only select an accredited dental assistant program. If you are going to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a prerequisite in nearly all states. To qualify to take the Certified Dental Assistant examination, your dental school must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the instruction you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Employers in Valrico FL often desire or require that new hires are graduates of accredited colleges. And finally, if you are requesting financial aid or a student loan, often they are not provided for non-accredited Florida schools.

Is The Right Dental Program Available? You can choose to train to become a dental assistant by earning either a Certificate or an Associate Degree. Just confirm that the Valrico FL college you select has the program that you want. However, bear in mind that even if a college has an excellent reputation as well as accreditation does not mean all of its programs do as well. For example, an accredited college may have a strong accredited dental hygienist program, but may have a weaker or non-accredited dental assistant program. So if you are primarily interested in a dental assistant degree, naturally it would not be the right school for you.

Is Sufficient Practical Training Provided? Clinical or practical training is a necessary part of every dental training program. This is true for the online school options also. Many dental programs have partnerships with area dental practices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only essential that the college you enroll in offers adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the kind of practice that you subsequently want to work in. As an example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, check that the Valrico FL area college you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local dental practice that specializes in dental treatment for children.

Are Internships Available? Ask if the dental schools you are evaluating have internship programs. Internships are probably the ideal means to obtain hands-on, practical experience in a real Valrico FL dental practice. They help students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students establish professional relationships in the local dentistry community. And they are attractive on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Many graduating students of dental assistant colleges require help landing their first job. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Schools with higher job placement rates are likely to have good reputations within the Valrico FL dental community in addition to broad networks of contacts where they can position their students for employment or internships.

Are the Classrooms Small? Check with the Valrico FL area schools you are looking at how large on average their classrooms are. The smaller classes usually provide a more intimate setting for training where students have greater access to the instructors. Conversely, larger classes often are impersonal and offer little individualized instruction. If feasible, ask if you can attend a few classes at the college that you are leaning toward so that you can experience first hand the amount of interaction between students and instructors before enrolling.

What is the Total Cost of the Program? Dental assistant schools can fluctuate in cost dependent on the length of the program and the volume of practical training provided. Other variables, for instance the reputations of the colleges and whether they are public or private also have an impact. But in addition to the tuition there are other substantial expenses which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as commuting and textbooks as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when comparing the cost of schools, remember to add all of the expenses associated with your education. The majority of colleges have financial aid departments, so make sure to find out what is offered as far as loans, grants and scholarships in Valrico FL.

Are the Classes Accessible? Before selecting a dental school, you must make sure that the assistant program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is especially true if you continue working while receiving your education and have to go to classes near your Valrico FL home at nights or on weekends. And even if you choose an online program, you will still have to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up practice is if you should need to miss any classes because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending Dental Assistant School near Valrico FL?

Following is some interesting background information about Valrico Florida that you may find helpful.

Valrico, Florida

Before the Civil War, the area was known as "Long Pond" and consisted of several cotton plantations. It was renamed "Valrico", meaning "rich valley" in Spanish, in the 1880s when William G. Tousey, a philosophy professor from Tufts College, purchased property in the area. In 1890, an influx of immigrants arrived, following the construction of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad through the area.

When the railroad was completed, Tousey began building up the community with retail stores, streets, and a bank. In 1895, a major freeze halted these developments, and the population began to dwindle. Nonetheless, the town continued to press on, with a schoolhouse being completed in 1896. The population continued to fall drastically, from 100 people in 1893 to only 50 in 1911.

This setback did not deter local landowners from pushing forward with the town's development. Between 1910-1914 Judge Hamner, Governor Van Sant, D. Humbird, W.H., S.C. Phipps and W.F. Miller started an improvement project along Hopewell Road, later designated SR 60. W.F. Miller, serving as president of the Valrico Improvement Association, raised $3,500 to erect the Valrico Civic Center, now known as the James McCabe Theatre. The area's first general store was opened by Lovett Brandon in 1912.

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Enroll in the Right Dental Assistant Program near Valrico FL

Enrolling in the right dental assistant program is essential if you wish to take the CDA examination or, if mandated in your state, become licensed. As you now know, there are many alternatives available to acquire your training and it takes a fairly short amount of time to become a dental assistant. You can acquire your formal education through dental programs at community colleges, technical institutes, trade schools and vocational schools. Graduates of these programs usually obtain a Certificate. Dental Assistants typically require about one year of study prior to entering the job market. When pursuing a certificate or degree you can elect to go to classes on-campus or online. Whichever mode of training or credential you choose to pursue, by addressing the questions presented in this article you will be in a better position to make the ideal choice. And as a result, you will be ready to start your journey toward becoming a dental assistant in Valrico FL.