Dental assistants are a big part of every trip to the dentist. They set up the room, help right at the chair, take X rays, and help patients feel at ease. They often handle the front desk too.
If you're looking at dental assistant school in Houston, here's what Houston Career Institute's Dental Assisting program covers, how the externship works, and how it fits into the RDA (Registered Dental Assistant) path in Texas.
What you learn in HCI's Dental Assisting program
The program is built around eight courses plus an externship:
- Introduction to the Healthcare Profession. Medical terms, anatomy, infection control, HIPAA, OSHA, ethics, and CPR.
- Dental Anatomy and Infection Control. Head and neck anatomy, tooth numbering, charting, and sterilizing instruments the right way.
- Essential Dental Assisting Skills and Procedures. Tray setups, helping with oral exams, dental charting, and patient records.
- Dental Lab Materials. Impressions, gypsum, dental cements, temporary crowns and bridges, and study casts.
- Dental Chairside Assisting. Helping the dentist at the chair, passing instruments, suction, and prepping the anesthetic syringe.
- Dental Radiography and Imaging Systems. Taking X rays, including digital and 3D imaging, plus radiation safety.
- Restorative Techniques and Dental Specialties. Orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, and more. You also practice coronal polishing and placing a dental dam.
- Dental Practice Office Management. Patient flow, scheduling, records, and dental insurance billing and coding.
- Externship. Real world experience in dental offices.
The courses mix lecture with hands on lab practice, so you practice skills as you learn them.
How long is dental assistant school at HCI?
You can finish in as few as 11 months, and that includes the externship. HCI offers morning and evening classes, so ask admissions which one is open for your start date.
What is the externship like?
Once you finish your courses, you do an externship in dental offices. Most of it is in general dentistry, and some may be in specialty practices. It's your chance to work with patients and use what you learned in class.
Good to know:
- It's part of your training, so you take part as a student and it's unpaid.
- Externship sites require a background check and drug test.
- Hours can change based on the office's schedule.
- It's a learning experience, not a job offer, but it's a great way to build real world skills.
How to become an RDA in Texas, and where HCI fits
In Texas, the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) credential goes through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE).
HCI's program prepares students to sit for:
- The infection control exam
- The radiation health and safety exams
- The TSBDE Texas Jurisprudence Assessment
You start taking these exams during the program. Graduates who pass them are eligible to begin the RDA application process through the TSBDE. The program helps you get ready for that step, and the application goes through the state.
Graduates also receive CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
What jobs could you look into after the program?
Entry level job titles graduates may want to look into include dental assistant, dental administrative assistant, and dental receptionist, in dental clinics and dental offices.
HCI's Career Services Office is there to help graduates look for entry level opportunities in their field. Employment isn't guaranteed, but you won't be figuring it out alone.
How much does dental assistant school cost?
Tuition and fees are listed in the student catalog on HCI's consumer information page.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify, and the financial aid team can walk you through your options.
FAQ
How long does dental assistant school take at HCI?
In as few as 11 months, including the externship.
Does HCI's program help with the Texas RDA?
It prepares students to sit for the infection control exam, the radiation health and safety exams, and the TSBDE Texas Jurisprudence Assessment. Graduates who pass are eligible to begin the RDA application process through the TSBDE.
Will I learn to take dental X rays?
Yes. The Dental Radiography and Imaging Systems course covers taking X rays, digital and 3D imaging, and radiation safety.
Do I get CPR certified?
Yes. Graduates receive CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
Is the externship paid?
The externship is part of your training, so it's unpaid. You take part as a student.
Come see the dental lab
Houston Career Institute is at 9700 Bissonnet Street in Houston, close to Sharpstown, Gulfton, Bellaire, and Alief.
Request info or schedule a campus tour, and an admissions rep can go over start dates, class times, admissions requirements, and financial aid for those who qualify.
Houston Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Career services assistance is available to students and graduates; employment is not guaranteed.
