Dental Assisting Programs

If you are interested in working with patients and playing a key role in their oral health, one smile at a time, TMCC’s Dental Assisting Program or the new Dental Assisting Basic Training Program may be for you. Students in these programs will build a foundation of dental knowledge needed within the field, including anatomy and physiology, dental radiology, clinical chairside procedures, (including orthodontics and oral surgery), infection control and practice management.

Learn more about our Dental Assisting programs including the steps to apply:

Dental Assisting Program

Earn a Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting in ten months or an AAS in Dental Assisting in 18 months! Graduates can take the CDA Exam to become credentialed professionals.

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DA Basic Training Program

A fast-track training program that can be completed online with in-person labs in only 8 to 15 weeks. No prerequisites or general education classes!

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Discover Your Career...Dental Assisting

Begin your journey in dental assisting, a dynamic healthcare field where you’ll play a crucial role in patient care and oral health. In just 10 months at TMCC, you'll learn essential skills including chairside procedures, infection control, patient scheduling, record management and radiography leading to high-demand roles upon graduation. Your fulfilling career starts today!

College Catalog Information

Check out additional Degree and Certificate information, including Recommended Course Schedule, Program Requirements and Program Outcomes.

Degrees
- Catalog: Dental Assisting, AAS
Certificates of Achievement
- Catalog: Dental Assisting, Full-time/Part-time, Certificate of Achievement
Skills Certificates
- Catalog: Dental Assisting Basic Training, Skills Certificate
Courses
- Catalog: Dental Assisting (DA) Courses

Launch Pennington Dental Wing

Pathogen Notice for Potential Dental Assisting Applicants

Enrolled students are exposed to a variety of pathogens including bloodborne pathogens. These include but are not limited to pathogenic organisms found in blood that can cause illness such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those pathogens found in oral/respiratory secretions that can cause illness such as Tuberculosis and Herpes.

The Dental Assisting Program's bloodborne pathogens policy is available in the program coordinator’s office.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Dental Assisting Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities for Dental Assistants include: general dentistry, group practice, specific dental specialties (such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry), public health dentistry, hospital dentistry, dental school clinics, federal, state, and community clinics and dental supply sales.

A Dental Assistant assists a dentist by performing diagnostic, operative, surgical, periodontal, preventive, orthodontic, prosthodontia and pedodontic procedures. A Dental Assistant may also provide oral hygiene instruction to patients, expanded duty functions and dental practice management.