Trade SchoolsDental assistants work in dentists’ offices and are responsible for providing patient care, taking X-rays, keeping records, scheduling appointments, and other similar tasks.
If you want to prepare for a profession that can be both personally and financially fulfilling, this may be the right path for you.
In the state of Alaska, a dental assistant may perform basic supportive dental procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.
Although there are no formal educational requirements for this level of dental assisting, completing a post-secondary training program is a great way to learn the skills needed for this profession.
To help you choose the program and the format that works best for you, on this page, we have compiled information about the best dental assistant schools in Alaska.
1University of Alaska Anchorage
About the School
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers a Dental Assisting program that allows students to complete labs and clinical training in an on-campus dental clinic and professional dental offices while also accumulating college credits to work towards a degree program.
Tuition and fees for this program sum up to $7,162.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Students prepare for responsibilities such as:
- Maintaining infection control
- Anticipating the dentist’s needs
- Setting up treatment rooms
- Assisting in procedures
- Taking impressions and fabricating temporary restorations
- Providing patient education
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Allied Health Sciences Building, 3500 Seawolf Drive, AHS 148, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
- Phone: (907) 786-4346
- Website: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu
2University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks offers more than 50 one-year certificate and two-year associate degree programs in a variety of fields through its UAF Community and Technical College.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the college:
- Bookkeeping Technician
- Applied Accounting
- Automotive Technology
- Dental Assistant- Associate of Applied Science and Certificate Programs
- Paramedicine- Associate of Applied Science program
- Medical Billing
- And more
The Dental Assistant pathway can lead to an Associate of Applied Science Degree or a Certificate.
The A.A.S. is a four-semester program and includes prosthodontics, endodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and more.
The Certificate requires 30 credits, while the A.A.S. requires 60 credits.
Students take classes such as:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting
- Anatomy of Dental Assistants
- Dental Radiography
- Beginning Chairside for Dental Assistants
- Advanced Chairside for Dental Assistants
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 604 Barnette Street, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
- Phone: 877-882-8827
- Website: https://www.ctc.uaf.edu
3Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
About the School
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium offers a Dental Therapy Educational Program.
The program is designed to help fight the decades-long epidemic of oral suffering and disease around rural Alaska and improve access to dental care for Alaska Native people.
The Dental Therapy Educational Program is two years in length, followed by at least three months of preceptorship with a supervising dentist.
Applicants need:
- A high school diploma
- Ability to pass a background check
- Mandatory drug screening is administered as part of the admissions process
The clinical phase is completed in Bethel and includes travel to remote villages to provide community-based oral health preventive care with a supervising ADTEP clinical instructor dentist.
The program is offered in partnership with ANTHC, the Iḷisaġvik College.
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508
- Phone: (907) 729-1900
- Website: https://www.anthc.org
4Iḷisaġvik College
About the School
Iḷisaġvik College offers a Dental Therapy program designed to provide oral healthcare to people in the communities where they live, with an emphasis on rural communities.
The Alaska Dental Therapy program is operated in partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
The program supports health providers in the dental profession by offering academic credentials in addition to the certification.
These credentials facilitate the transition into higher-level career pathways, such as baccalaureate degrees, or degrees in dental hygiene and dentistry.
Dental therapy students complete the didactic and preclinical phases in Anchorage.
The clinical phase is completed in Anchorage/Bethel and includes travel to remote villages to provide oral health care.
The course of study is equivalent to three academic years.
After graduation, Dental Health Aide Therapists are typically employed with a Tribal Health Organization and provide clinical and educational services in rural communities throughout the state.
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Stevenson Street, P.O. Box 749, Utqiaġvik (Barrow) Alaska 99723
- Phone: 907-852-3333
- Website: https://www.ilisagvik.edu
5Charter College
Charter College has provided Alaskans with career education opportunities since 1985.
The college offers programs in health care, business, and the trades/
The college provides bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificate programs.
Healthcare and trades programs provide students with hands-on training designed to make students workplace-ready.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Dental Assisting program that can be completed in 10 months and is available in a blended format.
The program is available in Canyon Country, Lancaster, Oxnard, Pasco, Fife, and Vancouver.
The program covers:
- Dental Office Administrative Procedures
- Orthodontics and Prosthodontics
- Preventive Dentistry
- Radiography
- Dental Sciences
- Dental Care Delivery and Techniques
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2221 East Northern Lights Blvd #120, Anchorage, AK 99508
- Phone: (907) 277-1000
- Website: https://chartercollege.edu
6Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers a Dental Assistant program that is available online.
The program is designed for students who pursue a career where they can help others.
The curriculum prepares students to sit for the Radiation Health and Safety exam and the Infection Control Exam.
Students learn about the foundational skills in dental procedures, dental medications, and more.
The program is available online and is flexible enough for students to complete coursework at a pace that works for them.
The curriculum includes ten courses and can be completed in three months by students in the fast-track program.
The average completion time is seven months.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Terminology, Anatomy, and Charting
- Preventive Dentistry and Ethics
- Dental Medications and Materials
- Dental Specialties
- Dental Front Office
Contact Information
- Address:200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
7Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers more than 400 undergraduate degrees and more than 450 graduate degrees led by an expert faculty in highly ranked colleges and schools.
Courses Offered
The university offers a Dental Assistant program that teaches students to:
- Prepare patients, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentists during dental procedures
- Record treatment information in patient records
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by the dentist
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs
- Apply a protective coating of fluoride to teeth
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
- Phone: 855-278-5080
- Website: https://www.asu.edu
8OC Dental Academy
About the School
Online Dental Assisting Classes are also available at schools located in other states.
One such school is OC Dental Academy, located in California.
OC Dental Academy helps students start a dental career in just ten weeks.
The school’s instructors have more than 40 years of experience in the dental field.
They offer detailed and informative courses that teach students everything they need to know about dental assisting.
The school offers valuable hands-on training.
Courses Offered
The dental assisting online course includes 42 interactive modules with
- Videos and animations
- Interactive exercises
- Quizzes
- exams with instant feedback
Students are trained in the following areas:
- Overview of the Dentitions
- Oral Pathology
- Nutrition
- Chemical and Waste Management
- Medical History
- Assisting in a Medical Emergency
- Vital Signs
- Delivering Dental Care
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 30162 Tomas, Suite 202, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
- Phone: (949) 866-4580
- Website: https://www.ocdentalacademy.com
9Borough of Manhattan Community College
About the School
Borough of Manhattan Community College offers a dental assisting program designed to provide students with real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants.
This course is available fully online and helps students gain the technical skills they need in order to join a dental office as clinical dental assistants.
The coursework covers essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care, radiology, pharmacology, employment strategies, and much more.
Students get to explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software.
There are no prerequisites to complete this course, but candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams.
The curriculum includes The Dental Profession, Basic Dental Sciences, Dental Anatomy, Oral Pathology, Infection Control, Emergency Management, Oral Health and Nutrition, Introduction to Chairside Assisting, Anesthesia and Sedation, and many other topics.
Contact Information
- Address: 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
- Phone: (212) 220-8000
- Website: https://www.bmcc.cuny.edu
1090 Day Dental Assistant
About the School
90-Day Dental Assistant offers a flexible, affordable, and convenient way to start a dental assisting career.
The course is fully online and allows you to learn at your own pace.
Students learn about Patient Care, X-rays, Dental Impressions, Dental Charting, Chairside Assisting, and Sterilization.
The course costs $500 in one easy payment and includes:
- Immediate access to the course
- Self-paced learning
- Comprehensive learning materials
- RHS exam prep materials
- Digital certification after completion and final installment.
A two-payment option of $325 is also available.
Contact Information
- Phone: 480-516-8068
- Website: https://90dayda.com
Regional Salary in Alaska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 500 | $53,160 | $25.56 | $64,700 | $37,440 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 110 | $50,270 | $24.17 | $58,560 | $36,080 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy working with people and you want to apply for a job as an assistant in a dental office, the schools included in our list offer programs tailored to meet your educational needs and lifestyle.
Now that you have read our list, the next step is to continue the research and choose the one that suits you best.
