Trade Schools
If you want to prepare for a rewarding career in a dental office but can’t afford to spend four years in dental school, the dental assistant profession is worth exploring.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for dental assistants in New York was $48,290 as of May 2023.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to learn how to complete tasks such as:
- Passing instruments and supplies to the dentist
- Preparing materials
- Removing sutures
- Applying topical anesthetics
- Applying bleaching agents and fissure sealants
- Taking and developing X-rays digitally and manually
- Obtaining patient’s medical history
- Radiology
- Infection Control
- And more
To help you choose the program and the format that best meets your learning style and career aspirations, on this page, we have compiled information about the best dental assistant schools in New York.
1Lehman College
About the School
Lehman College offers a Dental Assistant program that includes 80 hours of training.
The training is followed by a 40-hour externship and prepares students for one of the fastest-growing healthcare positions.
The program covers the history of dentistry, introduction to the dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, introduction to oral anatomy, introduction to tooth structure, and more.
After completing the training, students are matched with a local dental practice to complete their 40-hour externship and gain the valuable hands-on work experience needed for employment in the field.
The program meets the necessary requirements to take the Dental Assisting National Board Radiology Health and Safety Examination and the Infection Control exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468
- Phone: 718-960-8000
- Website: https://www.lehman.edu
2NYU College of Dentistry
About the School
NYU College of Dentistry offers a Dental Assisting Certificate Program.
The program can be completed in six months.
The tuition-free program aims to provide highly motivated, un-, or underemployed individuals with the skills to begin a new career as a chairside dental assistant.
Applicants need:
- Proof of a high school degree completion
- Two letters of recommendation
- A 500-word statement of interest
- Candidates must be available full-time, five days a week, for the entire six-month program.
The program is offered twice annually, in the fall and spring of each year.
Contact Information
- Address: 345 E. 24th Street (corner of First Avenue), New York, NY, 10010
- Phone: (212) 998-9800
- Website: https://dental.nyu.edu
3Mandl School- The College of Allied Health
About the School
Mandl School- The College of Allied Health offers a Dental Assistant Certificate.
The program includes 42 credits and can be completed in 45 weeks.
In total, the curriculum includes 1020 hours.
Students participate in patient care experience in a fully-equipped, on-site facility and externship experiences in clinics and dental offices.
The program covers all aspects of dental assistant skills and related theory.
Trainees prepare to assist dentists with back office patient care and care for treatment rooms and instruments, including all infection control procedures.
Students also learn about taking radiographs and mixing dental materials.
Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Law and Ethics for Allied Health Professionals
- Nutrition and Health Education
- Computer Concepts
- Dental Materials
- Dental Specialties and Procedures
- Oral Pathology
- Dental Office Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 254 W 54th St, New York, NY10019
- Phone: 212.247.3434
- Website: https://mandl.edu
4The State University of New York
About the School
The State University of New York offers a one-year online Dental Assisting certificate that prepares students for a variety of tasks in the dental office, including:
- Sterilization of instruments
- Setting up dental materials
- Performing office duties
- The program satisfied all requirements set by New York State to become Licensed Registered Dental Assistants.
The program awards 27 credits in total and can be completed 75% online.
Courses are semester-based, and classwork can be completed around students’ work and family commitments.
There is no set time when they are required to log in to attend classes.
The faculty that teach online classes are the same that students learn from on campus.
The State University of New York is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Contact Information
- Phone: 800-342-3811
- Website: https://explore.suny.edu
5Borough of Manhattan Community College
About the School
Among many other career education paths, the 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
6Medical Training Institute of New York
Medical Training Institute of New York helps students start new careers in the healthcare field.
The institute offers programs for future clinical medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, medical billing and coding technicians, and dialysis technicians.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant Hybrid Certificate program prepares students with the technical and practical training needed to work as an entry-level assistant in a dentist’s office.
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Anatomy and Terminology
- Preventive Dentistry and Nutrition
- Cavity Classification and Charting
- Infection Control
- Sterilization Procedures
- Radiology
- Dental Materials
- And more
The curriculum includes 700 clock hours.
Tuition for this program is $2,100.
Contact Information
- Address: 211 East 43rd Street, 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10017
- Phone: 212-204-8577
- Website: https://www.mtiofnewyork.com
7Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College offers a one-year online Dental Assisting certificate program that prepares students for a variety of tasks in the dental office, including sterilization of instruments, preparing materials for dental procedures, and performing office duties.
The program is only offered in an online format.
The college also offers a non-credit Alternative Dental Assisting Program for students who are currently working in the field and have more than 3,500 hours of work experience and CPR certification.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Dental Anatomy and Embryology
- Dental Assisting Radiology
- Dental Assisting Clinical Experience
- Dental Office Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180
- Phone: (518) 629-4822
- Website: https://www.hvcc.edu
8Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants
About the School
Westchester School for Medical & Dental Assistants has provided quality training and education to aspiring dental and medical assistants for years.
The Dental Assisting program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to become successful and certified dental assistants.
Students learn how to take patient records, prepare and sterilize instruments, assist in procedures, and provide patient education.
The program also covers dental anatomy, dental materials, infection control, dental radiology, and more.
Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Dental Assistant exam and work in the industry.
Students may become dental assistants in only six months.
The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.
Courses Offered
Students take classes such as:
- Dental Terminology
- Dental Anatomy
- Infection Control
- Operatory Procedures
- Chair Side Assisting
- Dental Emergencies
- Radiology
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1053 Saw Mill River RD Suite 204, Ardsley, NY 10502
- Phone: 914-682-9001
- Website: https://wsmda.edu
9Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine
About the School
The Dental Assistant program at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine is a ten-month, certificate program that includes both didactic and clinical components.
This is a New York state-registered course.
Graduates are eligible to complete the requirements for the New York State license.
Students learn how to:
- Provide patient education
- Take preliminary medical histories and vital signs
- Placing and removing rubber dams
- Selecting and pre-fitting professional crowns
- Taking impressions for space maintainers
- Removing temporary cement
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 101 South Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794
- Phone: (631) 632-8989
- Website: https://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu
10Jefferson Community College
About the School
Jefferson Community College offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students for entry-level employment.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics including the history of dentistry, dental office procedures, legal aspects, oral anatomy, dental operatory, and more.
The course includes 60 hours of course dental hours and 40 hours of optional clinical externship.
This program costs $1,499.
Students learn how to:
- Describe the process for gathering and assessing patient health information
- Summarize the use of radiology in dentistry and issues associated with it
- Outline how dental assistants assist with various dental procedures
- Explain the anatomy, physiology, and pathology concepts associated with dentistry
- Explain pediatric and orthodontic procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1220 Coffeen Street, Watertown, New York 13601
- Phone: 888.435.6522 or 315.786.2200
- Website: https://sunyjefferson.edu
Regional Salary in New York
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 840 | $47,220 | $22.7 | $57,840 | $37,330 |
| Binghamton, NY | 260 | $40,150 | $19.31 | $47,910 | $34,310 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 1,270 | $44,430 | $21.36 | $54,430 | $36,300 |
| Elmira, NY | 60 | $43,870 | $21.09 | $57,090 | $32,040 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 110 | $44,220 | $21.26 | $55,520 | $36,250 |
| Ithaca, NY | 100 | $43,980 | $21.15 | $57,940 | $37,030 |
| Kingston, NY | 130 | $45,630 | $21.94 | $57,720 | $37,120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 19,770 | $48,830 | $23.48 | $61,440 | $36,880 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,300 | $48,620 | $23.38 | $58,540 | $36,510 |
| Syracuse, NY | 880 | $43,820 | $21.07 | $55,570 | $36,300 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 220 | $42,870 | $20.61 | $55,250 | $31,940 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 110 | $40,510 | $19.48 | $46,220 | $33,900 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
New York provides aspiring dental assistants with plenty of career training programs.
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant schools in the state of New York it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your career aspirations and learning style.
