Trade Schools
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by Rhode Island dentists was $52,030- higher than the national average.
If you want to start a career a rewarding career in the dental field, this profession is worth exploring.
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
- Using suction hoses
- Keeping patient records
- Assisting dentists during a variety of dental procedures
- Obtaining vital signs
- Taking dental radiographs
- Instructing patients about appropriate oral hygiene strategies
- 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 Rhode Island.
1Community College of Rhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island offers a Dental Assisting program that empowers students to become competent dental assistants who assist with and perform quality comprehensive care in an ethical, interdisciplinary, culturally sensitive manner.
The program prepares students for careers as Dental Assisting National Board, Certified Dental Assistants.
About the School
This Certificate program includes the following requirements:
- Introduction to Dental Health Careers
- Preventive Dentistry
- Chairside Dental Assisting
- Dental Office Procedures
- Oral Radiology
- Dental Materials
In total, the program includes 39 hours.
Contact Information
- Address: 400 East Ave. Warwick, RI 02886-1807
- Phone: (401) 825-1000
- Website: https://www.ccri.edu
2Lincoln Tech
About the School
Lincoln Tech offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students to sit for the RHS and ICE portions of the Certified Dental Assistant exam.
Rhode Island classes are hands-on with training taking place inside dental labs on campus.
Students learn how to assist dentists during procedures such as oral surgery, implant placements, orthodontic procedures, and other cosmetic and aesthetic treatments.
They practice taking impressions and developing X-rays while training in simulated dental labs and sterilization rooms.
The training covers:
- Dental office management
- Dental anatomy
- Infection control
- Chairside assisting
- Prosthodontics
- Dental Health
- Dental radiography
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 622 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI02865
- Phone: (401) 334-2430
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu
3East Providence High School- Career and Technical Center
About the School
East Providence High School- Career and Technical Center offers a Dental Assisting program that teaches students how to take vital signs, infection control procedures, dental instruments, restorative procedures, suction placements, and laboratory procedures.
They also prepare for other tasks, such as:
- Preparing the treatment rooms
- Instrument tray set up
- Preparing patients for treatment
- Reviewing the patient’s medical history
- Assisting during aesthetic procedures
- Exposing dental radiographs
- Taking dental impressions
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2000 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
- Phone: 401.443.4360
- Website: https://eastprovidencectc.com
4Rhode Island Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training
About the School
Rhode Island Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training offers an 18-week training program that helps adults learn the skills and certifications needed to get a job as a Dental assistant in Rhode Island.
This program includes 495 hours in total.
Dental assistant students learn a variety of skills, including:
- First AID/CPR
- Radiology
- Dental Anatomy
- Sanitation and Safety
- HIPAA regulations
- Financial Literacy
- And more
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have a high school diploma credential and can read at a secondary level
- Must pass a BCI
- Be vaccinated against COVID-19
Contact Information
- Phone: (401) 462-7787
- Website: https://risnapet.org/
5Porter and Chester Institute
Porter and Chester Institute offers career education and training at its Hamden campus, in the neighboring state of Connecticut.
The programs are designed to give students the technical skills needed to become valuable employees in today’s competitive workforce.
The institute provides hybrid, online, and on-campus learning models in industry-modeled programs that offer students flexibility to fit their education around their life schedule.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting program prepares students for a new career as dental assistants in as few as 10 months.
The program is available in a blended format:
- Online lectures
- Labs on campus
The program is offered in Bridgeport, Hamden, New London, Waterbury, Brockton, Chicopee, and Worcester.
Graduates earn a diploma.
The Dental Assisting labs feature the same equipment and technology students will find in dental offices and clinics.
Students learn how to assist dentists in a dental operatory, take radiographs, mix dental materials, exercise proper infection control and sterilization, use model trimmers, take vital signs, and perform other dental assistant tasks.
Contact Information
- Address: 156 Boston Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610
- Phone: (475) 273-2400
- Website: https://porterchester.edu
6New England Dental Academy
New England Dental Academy prepares students for careers in dental assisting.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting program available at the academy costs $7,900 and can be completed in nine months.
The school offers:
- Materials and equipment
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Academic & Clinical instruction
- 150 hours of lecture/hands-on training
- Apply for an MA Dental Assistant License
The program also covers Radiology and CPR certification.
The curriculum includes an online portion that helps students learn the technical aspects of this profession, including teeth numbers, instrument names, and other terms specific to this profession.
New England Dental Academy is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Occupational License.
Day and evening classes are offered to allow students to maintain their current lives while preparing for a new career in their free time.
Contact Information
- Address: 116 Belmont St., Suite 14, Worcester, MA 01605
- Phone: (508) 425-6644
- Website: https://www.nedentalacademy.com
7East Coast Dental Tech
About the School
East Coast Dental Tech offers a dental assisting program that can be completed in 26 weeks by students who attend classes for 26 weeks- two evenings per week.
This program costs $3,995.
The curriculum is available in hybrid and online formats.
The program prepares students with the skills needed for a career in the dental field, including the basics, four essential certifications in Infection Control, Bloodborne Pathogen Training, CPR, and Radiology.
Students also get hands-on experience, career development, and job placement assistance.
Graduates receive a “Formally Trained” Licensure from the Dental Board.
A Dental Business Assistant program is also available in an online format.
This program covers skills such as taking care of billing and insurance forms to providing a friendly, ethical, and professional environment for new and returning patients.
Contact Information
- Address: 80 Main St. #86, Taunton, MA 02780
- Phone: 508-967-9077
- Website: https://www.eastcoastdentaltech.com
8Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College offers a variety of credit, noncredit, and training opportunities for high school students, adults, and businesses.
Hybrid, on-campus, and online classes are available at the college.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting Certificate at Middlesex Community College provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to assist dentists at chairside.
The program prepares students to perform clinical supportive procedures, some clinical procedures on patients, laboratory procedures, and basic office procedures.
Students also gain knowledge of the legal provisions and regulations that apply to the Massachusetts Dental Practice Act and dental auxiliary utilization.
The program includes courses such as:
- Dental Science
- Dental Assisting
- Concepts in Risk Management
- Dental Radiology
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Practicum
- Preventive Dentistry
- And more
The program includes 36 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 33 Kearney Square, Lowell, MA 01852
- Phone:800-818-3434
- Website: https://middlesex.mass.edu
9New England Teaching Institute
About the School
New England Teaching Institute offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students for patient care, as well as office and laboratory duties.
The program is only eight weeks long and helps students start a new career quickly.
Students are exposed to a wide range of techniques, materials, and dental knowledge.
The curriculum is focused on the vital skills dental assistants use in everyday practice.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or G.E.D. High School Equivalency Certificate.
There is no entrance exam, but candidates are subject to a personal interview.
Students must obtain a passing score of 75% to graduate and receive their certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 323A Universal Drive, North Haven, CT 06473
- Phone: (203) 939-2045
- Website: newenglandteachinginstitute.com
10Borough of Manhattan Community College
About the School
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 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
Regional Salary in Rhode Island
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,330 | $52,250 | $25.12 | $76,140 | $35,640 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Rhode Island offers a variety of dental assistant training programs for those who would like to pursue a career in this field.
Most programs focus on hands-on training to ensure students are ready for real-world scenarios.
Now that you have read our selection of the best dental assistant programs in Rhode Island, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style.
