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 Ohio in 2023 was $49,550.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to learn how to complete tasks such as:
- Passing dental instruments to dentists
- Taking X-rays
- Sterilizing dental instruments
- Disinfecting treatment rooms
- Completing office functions
- Placing dental sealants
- 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 Ohio.
1Columbus Academy
About the School
Columbus Academy helps students become dental assistants in just 12 weeks.
The school has a 100% pass rate and a high job placement.
Financial aid is available.
The program includes 78 hours of lecture/lab and a 50-hour internship.
The course of study includes radiology and CPR certification along with office specialty training.
The curriculum covers Intro to Profession, Ethical and Legal Issues, Infection Control & Treatment Preparation and Clean Up, Human Dentition, Dental Terminology, Dental Charting and Radiography, Oral Pathology, Oral Cavity, Dental Materials, Pediatric Dentistry, Front Office Management, Resume Preparation, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 4998 Rings Rd. Suite A, Dublin, Ohio 43017
- Phone: (614) 526-8842
- Website: https://columbusacademyofdentalassisting.com
2Dental Assistant Pro
Dental Assistant Pro offers students the opportunity to start a career in just nine weeks.
Students become eligible to become Registered Dental Assistants upon completion of the program.
The program includes 82 hours of lecture/hands-on training.
Included is also Oral Radiology Certification.
Courses Offered
Students learn skills such as:
- Passing dental instruments
- Taking diagnostic X-rays
- Sterilizing dental instruments
- Disinfecting treatment rooms
- Office functions such as answering the phone, welcoming patients, charting dental information, and creating reports
- Placing dental sealants
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 767 Columbus Ave, Lebanon, OH 45036
- Phone: (513) 597-5084
- Website: https://dentalassistantpro.com
3Assist to Succeed
Assist to Succeed offers a Dental Assistant program that can be completed in ten weeks.
The program leads to a certificate and is available in Newark and Columbus, Ohio.
Courses Offered
Students learn how to perform tasks such as:
- Assisting Dentists in all treatment procedures
- Preparing work areas for treatment and procedures
- Ensuring that patients are comfortable in the dental chair
- Sterilizing dental instruments and disinfecting patient treatment rooms
- Drying patients’ mouths using suction and other equipment
- Taking and potentially developing radiographs and completing lab tasks
- Taking dental impressions, making temporary dental crowns, assembling dental syringes, and taking intraoral photos
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 89 W Wilson Bridge Rd, Worthington, OH 43085
- Phone: (740) 602-1250
- Website: https://assisttosucceedofnewark.com
4Cleveland Dental Institute
Cleveland Dental Institute offers a comprehensive eleven-week course that allows students to develop their skills in a private practice setting.
The program offers students an exceptional and unique foundation in science, technology, and clinical practice for the Dental Assisting profession.
The school provides students with a comprehensive Learning Center for classroom, laboratory, clinical simulation, and clinical experience.
Tuition for this program is $1,875.
Additional fees bring the total cost to $2,000.
The cost includes books and materials, laboratory fees, and radiology books.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Dentistry
- The Functioning Dental Practice
- Four-Handed Dental Assisting
- Laboratory Procedures
- Radiology
- HIPAA and Confidentiality
- Ethics and Professionalism, Communication, and Conflict Resolution
- And more
In total, the program includes 375 hours.
Contact Information
- Address:4071 Lee Road, Suite 260, Cleveland, OH 44128
- Phone: (440) 290-5575
- Website: https://cdiohio.org
5Stark State College
Stark State College prepares students for work as dental assistants, infection control managers, practice managers, or dental hygiene assistants.
Courses are offered during the day, evening, and weekends during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Courses Offered
Students take the following courses:
- Dental Assisting Techniques
- Dental Assisting Materials
- Introduction to Dental Terminology and Basic Anatomy
- Dental Assisting Radiography
- Dental Assisting Techniques
- Dental Assisting Specialty
In total, the Career Enhancement Certificate in Dental Assisting includes 16 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 6200 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton, OH 44720
- Phone: 330-494-6170 | 1-800-797-8275
- Website: https://www.starkstate.edu
6Lakeland Community College
Lakeland Community College provides a Dental Assistant program with a comprehensive curriculum that blends classroom learning with hands-on training used in today’s dental treatment rooms.
Courses Offered
Students gain skills to:
- Perform patient care tasks
- Master essential office duties
- Assist the dentist chairside
- Become a valuable asset to the healthcare community
Students become job-ready in just seven months.
The program starts in May and ends in December.
Lakeland’s health building is a state-of-the-art facility with the latest equipment in health care for students to learn and practice their skills.
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available to help students achieve their educational goals.
Contact Information
- Address: 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5198
- Phone: 440.525.7000 | 800.589.8520
- Website: https://www.lakelandcc.edu
7Columbus Dental Assisting
About the School
Columbus Dental Assisting helps students accelerate their skills with an eight-week course training in the necessary skills to pursue a career in Dental Assisting.
The school’s facility is held in a fully functioning renowned dental office.
Here students are exposed to an in-house dental laboratory that includes a 3D printing lab as well as 11 operatories and a whole lecture facility.
Classes are kept to 15 students to allow for more personalized attention and extensive hands-on training.
Students will sit for an Ohio-approved Radiology class to receive radiology licensure.
Tuition for this program is $3,350 and includes a registration fee, tuition, an ebook, a seven-hour radiology course, and safety glasses.
Class lectures are completed online on students’ own time.
Contact Information
- Address: 55 Caren Ave Suite 270, Worthington, OH 43085
- Phone: 614-749-0573
- Website: https://www.columbusdentalassisting.com
8Fortis Institute
About the School
Fortis Institute provides a Dental Assisting program in Centerville.
Students learn how to provide educational, preventive, and clinical therapeutic services to the public and promote healthy dental hygiene.
The dental assisting program is a blend of traditional classroom instruction, and small-group learning environments enhanced by hands-on skill development.
Students learn by doing and develop important skills through real-world hands-on practice.
The program covers a variety of direct patient care skills, routine administrative and office tasks, and critical laboratory functions.
Graduates receive a diploma and are ready for entry-level employment opportunities as dental assistants.
Contact Information
- Address: 555 E. Alex Bell Road Centerville (Dayton), OH 45459
- Phone: (937) 433-3410
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu
9East Ohio College
About the School
East Ohio College offers a Dental Assisting degree program.
The career-focused program gives students the opportunity to benefit from interactive dental labs, classroom instruction, and career development.
Students acquire skills in dental procedures, oral hygiene, office management tasks, and dental technology skills.
Courses Offered
The curriculum covers skills such as:
- Exposing and developing radiographs
- Assisting the dentist during dental procedures
- Sterilizing dental instruments and equipment
- Managing patient records
- Scheduling procedures
- Developing leadership skills needed to manage a dental office
- Identifying oral pathology
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 15258 State Route 170, East Liverpool, OH 43920
- Phone: (330)-385-1070
- Website: https://eastohio.edu
10Maumee Valley Dental Assisting School
About the School
Maumee Valley Dental Assisting School helps students become dental assistants in just ten weeks.
Students get to work alongside doctors and dental hygienists.
The program is state-board-approved.
Classes take place on Saturday.
Classes are limited to 15 students.
The program is based on the Assist to Succeed dental assisting curriculum, a program that provides a hands-on approach to learning at a lower cost than traditional dental assisting programs in the area.
Half of the course period is classroom work, and the other half is clinical experience.
Students are taught in an actual practicing, state-of-the-art dental office and learn from dental professionals who practice and teach in the most current methods of dentistry.
Contact Information
- Address: Westmoreland Avenue, Napoleon, OH 43545
- Phone: (855) 222-3259
- Website: http://www.succeedindentistry.com
Regional Salary in Ohio
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 610 | $48,190 | $23.17 | $66,360 | $36,150 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 350 | $45,910 | $22.07 | $64,290 | $36,310 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,070 | $55,230 | $26.56 | $75,400 | $36,740 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 2,250 | $50,870 | $24.46 | $68,690 | $37,370 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,570 | $48,710 | $23.42 | $72,800 | $36,120 |
| Dayton, OH | 770 | $51,860 | $24.94 | $74,080 | $34,440 |
| Lima, OH | 80 | $46,330 | $22.27 | $72,640 | $34,370 |
| Mansfield, OH | 110 | $41,230 | $19.82 | $58,810 | $31,700 |
| Springfield, OH | 120 | $45,780 | $22.01 | $71,820 | $34,640 |
| Toledo, OH | 710 | $45,620 | $21.93 | $61,980 | $34,530 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 350 | $41,930 | $20.16 | $47,900 | $34,670 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
The state of Ohio provides aspiring dental assistants with training programs that prepare them for a career in this field.
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant schools in the state of Ohio it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your schedule and learning style.
