Dental Assisting

Help Put Confidence in Every Smile

Adult Costs

$2,755

Program Length

16 months

Next Start Date

3/9/2026

Enroll by

February 26th

Location

Main Campus

Learn More

Your name

Support Dentists and Serve Patients: Become a Dental Assistant

Gain the hands-on skills to launch a rewarding career in the dental field. Utilize your training in a high-demand healthcare field that offers flexible working hours and has great opportunities for career advancement.

Avg. Salary

$36k

for OTECH Grads

Career Growth

2.40%

by 2032 in Utah

Day in the Life

From the moment the dental office opens, you are on the move—preparing exam rooms and sterilizing instruments. Throughout the day, you greet and seat patients, take X-rays, and assist the dentist during procedures. Between appointments, you manage important administrative tasks like scheduling and record keeping. Every day is a fast-paced blend of clinical skills and care, all dedicated to helping people smile with confidence.

Career Skills You'll Learn:

Dental Radiography

Learn current methods for dental radiography, including X-rays, 3D, and panoramic images.

Patient Care Skills

Learn to greet and prepare patients for treatment and ensure they remain safe and comfortable during their procedure.

Clinical Chairside Skills

Learn to assist during a variety of procedures, including fillings, crowns, extractions, implants, and root canals.

Interpersonal Communication

Learn important communication skills to instruct patients on oral health and interact with the dental team.

Front Office Skills

Learn basic office management procedures, including scheduling, patient records, billing, ordering, and insurance.

Expanded Functions

Learn to polish teeth, make bleach trays, place sealants, take impressions, give fluoride treatments, and more.

Potential Career Paths

Dental Assistant

Provide support to dentists, ensuring smooth and efficient patient care and assisting with various procedures.

Dental Hygiene (with further education)

Provide preventative oral care, clean teeth, examine patients for signs of disease, and educate on oral hygiene practices.

Dentist (with further education)

Healthcare professional who examines, diagnoses, and treats diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth, gums, and related oral structures.

OTECH Partners who hire our Dental Assisting graduates

Program Overview

The Dental Assisting program is designed to prepare students for employment as a professional chairside assistant. Dental Assistants increase the efficiency of the dental office by performing a wide range of clinical, interpersonal, and administrative skills. Join our program and utilize your training in a high-demand, flexible healthcare field. Students focus on the basics of dental assisting, nutrition, dental prevention, dental disease, infection control, instrument and tray setups for dental procedures, dental materials, anatomy, radiology, dental specialties, law and ethics, CPR, and clinical experience.

Classroom Hours
This is a hybrid program. Complete coursework online and come to the classroom for labs and hands-on skills.

Day: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Eve: M-Th 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Enrollment open to
Adults, High school students

Credit transfer options
Available to view here

Tuition & Cost

Estimated Adult Tuition and Fees
$2,800.00

Estimated Materials Cost
$216.00

Estimated High School Student Cost
$140.00

Financial Aid Eligibility
Scholarship: Yes
VA: Yes
Pell Grant: Yes

Program Materials
MaterialRequiredNew
Lab Coat$30.00
Random Drug Screen for Health Programs$58.00
Scrubs (Any Color)$40.00
Vaishali Singhal, et. al MindTap for Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach (e-book access code) ISBN: 9780357456729$118.00
Subtotal of required materials$246.00
TEDE 1021 Infection Control
MaterialRequiredNew
Lab Coat$30.00
Subtotal of required materials$30.00
  • The Dental Assisting program at OTECH has a reading requirement. Please visit this page for more information.
  • Enrolled as a high school junior and in the 2nd semester, or older.
  • Must pass a background check.

The OTECH Dental Assisting program has rolling start dates throughout the year. If you are interested in enrolling in the program, please review the application deadlines and program start dates below to ensure a smooth application process.

3/9/2026
  • Correlate the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, psychology, and microbiology to the roles and responsibilities of a dental assistant.
  • Identify commonly used equipment, supplies, instrumentation, and medications used in the dental chairside setting.
  • Apply the principles of asepsis to the dental office and its environment.
  • Competently and safely perform the skills of a dental assistant.
  • Use legal, moral, and ethical principles to evaluate the care of a dental patient.
  • Demonstrate the professional attributes of a dental assistant.
  • Pass the final exam and certifications for the dental field.

Background Check and Drug Testing  

  • All students must complete a background check and a random drug test. 
  • You need a Social Security Number or ITIN to do the background check. 
  • Criminal charges from the last 7 years will show up. In Utah, juvenile records are not sealed.  
  • You must complete hands-on training at a job site to finish the program. A criminal record or positive drug test could prevent that. 
  • If you can’t finish your program because of your background or a positive drug test, no refunds will be given. 
  • If you have a criminal record, talk to the Program Coordinator before you enroll. 

Vaccination Information

  • The program requires hands-on training at a job site.  
  • Job sites may ask students to get the COVID-19 vaccine before placement.  
  • If you have questions, please talk to your Program Coordinator.
Course Syllabus →
Course NumberCourse NameCreditsCost
DENA1110Chairside Assisting – Clinical Procedures I3$285
DENA1205Professional Dentistry1$95
DENA1210Dental Materials – Clinical Procedures II3$285
DENA1225Dental Assisting Anatomy and Physiology3$285
DENA1230Patient Information and Care2$190
DENA1240Preventive Dentistry2$190
DENA1270Infection Control3$285
DENA1310Dental Specialties I – Clinical Procedures III3$285
DENA1370Dental Radiography3$285
DENA1410Dental Specialties II – Clinical Procedures IV3$285
DENA1430Dental Office Management2$190
DENA1440Final Skills2$190
DENA1510Dental Assisting Externship2$190
TEDE 1010Dental Assisting I (Introduction to Dental Assisting)3$285
TEDE 1020Dental Assisting II (Infection Control)2$190
TEDE 1030Dental Assisting III (Patient Information)2$190
TEDE 1040Dental Assisting IV (Dental Materials)3$285
TEDE 1100Dental Anatomy2$190
TEDE 1110Dental Radiology3$285
TEDE 1200Clinical Procedures I (Dental Instruments and Equipment)3$285
TEDE 1210Clinical Procedures II (Anesthesia and Pain Control)2$190
TEDE 1220Specialties I (Orthodontics, Pediatrics, Prosthodontics)3$285
TEDE 1230Specialties II (Periodontics, Endodontics, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery)2$190
TEDE 1300Dental Office Administration1$95
TEDE 1900Dental Assisting Externship2$190
WKSK 1500Job Seeking Skills1$95

Background Check and Drug Testing

  • All students must complete a background check and a random drug test.
  • You need a Social Security Number or ITIN to do the background check.
  • Criminal charges from the last 7 years will show up. In Utah, juvenile records are not sealed.
  • You must complete hands-on training at a job site to finish the program. A criminal record or positive drug test could prevent that.
  • If you can’t finish your program because of your background or a positive drug test, no refunds will be given.
  • If you have a criminal record, talk to the Program Coordinator before you enroll.

Vaccination Information:

  • The program requires hands-on training at a job site.
  • Job sites may ask students to get the COVID-19 vaccine before placement.
  • If you have questions, please talk to your Program Coordinator.
Dana Mace

Dana is the Coordinator of the Dental Assisting program. She is a graduate of the college program and has 15 years clinical dental assisting experience in a private practice and in the Air Force Reserves. She has an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting and is a member of the American Dental Assistants Association. As a former student with a vivacious personality, a zest for life, and enthusiasm for the college and program, she wants to impart her skill set and fresh perspective to the dental assisting program.

Office Hours (by appointment)
M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location
Health Tech 121A

dana.mace@otech.edu

801-627-8463