Trade Schools
If you want to start a career as an assistant to a dentist, this page is for you.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage earned by dental assistants in Oregon was $55,960- making it the third-highest paying state for workers in this profession.
To prepare for a career in this profession, you have to learn how to complete tasks such as:
- Ensuring patients are comfortable in the dental chair
- Preparing patients
- Greeting patients
- Scheduling appointments
- Keeping patient records
- Assisting dentists during a variety of dental procedures
- Obtaining vital signs
- Taking dental radiographs
- Teaching patients about appropriate oral hygiene strategies
- And more
Some programs combine self-paced online training with hands-on experiences to allow students to work while preparing for a new career.
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 Oregon.
1Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College provides students with hundreds of program options to choose from.
Students have the option of completing their education at PPC or moving to a four-year college or university.
Among many other career programs, Portland Community College offers a Dental Assisting program that prepares students for a quick entry into this high-demand field.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program can be completed in one year and is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Students prepare for a wide range of services, including:
- Clinical laboratory skills
- Mixing dental cement
- Office management
- Rubber dam use
- Sterilizing instruments
- Study model preparation
- Topical anesthetic placement
- X-ray filming and developing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 705 N. Killingsworth St. Portland, OR 97217
- Phone: 971-722-6111
- Website: https://www.pcc.edu
2Practical Dental Assisting of Oregon
About the School
Practical Dental Assisting of Oregon offers an expanded function course that can be completed in 14 weeks.
Students train from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. once a week.
They have the option of training on Thursday or Friday, depending on course availability.
The class size is limited to eight students to provide students with ample attention from the instructor.
Students learn through hands-on lab experience, lectures, and lots of practice.
The Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certification includes:
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certificate
- Oregon radiology proficiency license
- DANB Radiology Health and Safety certification
- Healthcare-level CPR certification
Contact Information
- Address: 1885 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330
- Phone: (541) 760-8259
- Website: https://www.pdaoforegon.com
3Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting School
About the School
Pacific Northwest Dental Assisting School prepares students for a rewarding healthcare career.
Students may complete the hands-on dental assistant career training and classroom education in just 12 weeks.
Tuition is $6,995.
Financial assistance and flexible payment plans are available.
The curriculum includes 144 hours of classroom study and 50 hours of hands-on internship at an on-site dental practice.
Night and weekend class options are available to allow students to keep working while they study.
Courses Offered
The course outline includes:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting and Tooth Anatomy
- OSHA Training and Impressions
- Preventive Care
- Pain and Anxiety Control
- Provisional Coverage
- Medical Emergencies
- Checkoffs and Graduation Prep
- And more
Contact Information
- Address:19301 SE 34th St #105, Camas, WA 98607
- Phone: (360)844-5391
- Website: https://www.schoolofdentalassisting-vancouver.com
4Chemeketa Community College
The Dental Assisting program at Chemeketa Community College prepares students to sit for the national Certified Dental Assistant exam.
The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Accreditation and is partnered with the Oregon Institute of Technology to provide a Bachelor’s degree option in Dental Hygiene.
Courses Offered
The program outcomes include:
- Performing basic and expanded chairside functions
- Manipulating dental materials
- Performing basic office procedures
- Demonstrating proficiency in exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographic images
- Practicing professional behaviors
- Managing asepsis and infection control
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503.399.5000
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu
5Southern Oregon Dental Assistant Education
About the School
Southern Oregon Dental Assistant Education helps students launch dental careers fast and affordable.
Students learn at a local dental office, using real dental equipment and materials.
The hands-on training part helps students gain the confidence needed to gain employment as dental assistants.
The program costs $6,995.
The curriculum is designed to have students ready for employment in just eight months.
Applicants must be 18 years or older and are required to have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion for Dental Assisting and Dental Radiology.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 1383 Jacksonville, OR 97530
- Phone: (541) 531-4563
- Website: https://sodaeprogram.com
6Concorde Career College
Concorde Career College helps students prepare for new careers in a variety of in-demand fields.
The curriculum includes an externship to allow students to gain real-world experience.
Students may complete a diploma in as few as nine months or an associate of applied science in as few as 17 months.
They prepare for career opportunities in private practices, clinics, cosmetic dentistry, and more.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in the program’s curriculum:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting and Dental Terminology
- Dental Specialties
- Materials & Procedures
- Patient Care & Management
- Diagnostic & Orthodontics
- Dental Radiology
Contact Information
- Address:1425 NE Irving St., Portland, Oregon 97232
- Phone: (971) 229-4551
- Website: https://www.concorde.edu
7Lane Community College
Lane Community College offers a one-year Dental Assisting program that combines online, classroom, and clinical laboratory learning.
The program includes basic health sciences, oral anatomy, and pathology, dental materials, radiographic and chairside assisting techniques, as well as principles of office records management and marketing, laboratory procedures, and more.
The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and is recognized by the Dental Assisting National Board.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Human Body Systems
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Health Office Procedures
- Infection Control
- Dental Anatomy
- Dental Materials
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 East 30th Ave. Eugene, Oregon 97405
- Phone: 541-463-3000
- Website: https://www.lanecc.edu
8Eugene Dental Assisting Program
About the School
Eugene Dental Assisting Program offers Dental Assistant training that can be completed in four months.
Students are exposed to all types of dental procedures and technology.
Tuition for this program is $10,000
No previous dental experience is required.
After graduation, students have the knowledge and skills to complete all necessary exams through the Dental Assisting National Board:
- Radiation Health and Safety Exam
- Oregon Expanded Dental Assistant Exam
- Oregon Basic Dental Assisting Exam
Contact Information
- Address: 2457 Oakmont St, Eugene, OR 97401
- Phone: 541-285-0575
- Website: https://www.eugenedap.com
9Linn Benton Community College
Linn Benton Community College offers a variety of programs to guide degree-seeking students with a faster path toward graduation.
Total tuition and fees sum up to $162.60 per credit for Oregon residents.
Courses Offered
Linn Benton Community College offers a Dental Assistant exam that helps students gain clinical and expanded function experience while assisting dentists in various treatments.
The one-year Certificate program includes courses on:
- Dental Radiology
- Dental Materials
- Introduction to Dentistry
- Dental Anatomy & Histology
- Dental Health Education and Nutrition
- Dental Office Records
- And more
Linn Benton Community College Dental Assistant program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
Contact Information
- Address: 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, Oregon 97321
- Phone: 541-917-4999
- Website: https://www.linnbenton.edu
10Rogue Community College
Rogue Community College offers a variety of programs and pathways that prepare students for careers in in-demand fields.
Courses Offered
Rogue Community College offers the following Dental Assisting career and technical courses:
- Dental Assisting I
- Dental Assisting II
- Dental Assisting II Lab
- Dental Materials
- Dental Administration
- Dental And Medical Emergency Management
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Dentistry
- Dental Radiology
- Infection Control for the Dental Professional
- And more
Students may complete a four-term certificate program that prepares them for careers as dental assistants with expanded functions.
The curriculum is based on General Dentistry.
Students are trained in four-handed chair-side assisting techniques to work with general dentists during all phases of patient examination and treatment.
Contact Information
- Address: 3345 Redwood Hwy. Grants Pass, OR 97527
- Phone: 541-956-7500
- Website: https://www.roguecc.edu
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 130 | $52,420 | $25.2 | $59,140 | $48,010 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 280 | $54,420 | $26.16 | $59,980 | $48,090 |
| Corvallis, OR | 110 | $51,580 | $24.8 | $58,720 | $48,750 |
| Eugene, OR | 620 | $51,330 | $24.68 | $57,120 | $47,150 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 90 | $53,180 | $25.57 | $59,930 | $47,910 |
| Medford, OR | 330 | $51,780 | $24.9 | $59,040 | $46,400 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,260 | $57,670 | $27.73 | $72,390 | $47,100 |
| Salem, OR | 560 | $54,780 | $26.34 | $60,160 | $47,980 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Oregon offers a variety of dental assistant training programs for those who would like to pursue a career in this field.
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant programs in Oregon it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style.
