Pro Tip
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Dental Support Services is a degree category that consists of the following common degrees:
- Read more about Dental Assisting
Dental assisting degree, diploma, and certificate programs teach the clinical and administrative components of working as a dental assistant. Students learn in classroom, laboratory, and real-world settings. Those who wish to work in a specialized area of dentistry, such as pediatric or orthodontic care, can often focus on it during the practicum portion of their training.
Coursework at dental assisting schools typically covers these subjects:
- Orofacial anatomy
- Dental sciences
- Oral hygiene and infection control
- Dental pharmacology
- Dental materials
- Dental procedures and techniques
- Dental radiography (x-rays)
- Dental office administration
- Dental health education
- Read more about Dental Hygiene
Degree programs in dental hygiene prepare students for a career as a dental hygienist. Students learn how to examine patients for tooth decay and oral diseases, take x-rays, clean teeth, apply fluoride treatments, educate patients how to care for their teeth and gums, and assist dentists with restorative procedures.
The dental hygiene curriculum focuses on subjects like dental anatomy, periodontics (the supporting structures of teeth), microbiology, pathology (disease), dental pharmacology, and nutrition. Clinical practice is central to the curriculum.
- Read more about Dental Laboratory Technology
Dental laboratory technicians work behind the scenes and have limited, often no contact with patients. They make crowns, bridges, ceramics, dentures, implants, and braces that are prescribed by dentists.
Students of dental laboratory technology learn all aspects of the art and science of crafting these restorative devices, known as dental prostheses. They learn in the classroom, in the teaching lab, and in real-world labs. Programs begin with core classes in functional anatomy – the study of bodily structure as it relates to function – and head and neck anatomy.