Online dental courses help students to acquire in-depth knowledge in dental practices, methodology and techniques. After completing online dental programs, students will be able to perform various tasks in dental clinics and hospitals such as obtaining dental records, preparing patients for treatment, expose X-rays and radiographs, teach patients regarding oral healthcare, sterilize and disinfect equipment and instruments, administering medicines, cleaning teeth, interacting with patients, etc. Dental assistants need to assist dentists, oral surgeon, orthodontists, etc. Online dental assistant programs normally take one year to complete. Students need to undergo both practical and theory classes. The courses of online dental schools include Pre-clinical dental assisting, dental assisting clinical experience, basic clinical dental assisting practice, etc.
Pre-clinical dental assisting is the first step for students who seek online dental programs. Through this program, they need to learn topics such as introduction to dentistry techniques, methodology, dentistry ethics and history of dental field.
Basic clinical dental assisting course starts during the middle of online dental programs and this course enables them to acquire critical dental assisting and practical application skills. As a part of clinical experience training, students need to work under the supervision of a professional dentist for a few months. Students can utilize this period to apply skills they acquired during online dental programs.
Accredited Online Dental Programs
Most of the online dental schools and colleges around the world offer accredited online dental assisting degree programs to students. It includes:
- Preventive dentistry,
- Orofacial anatomy,
- Pre-clinical dental hygiene,
- Physiology,
- Microbiology,
- Dental radiology, etc.
Besides, students need to undergo healthcare training in accounting, anatomy, dental health, dental practices, preventive dentistry, nutrition, health administration, dental X-ray, etc during their online dental programs. Online dental schools also train students in clinical and administrative skills. Clinical training includes exposing and processing X-rays, taking vital signs, empower students to provide treatment and conduct oral inspections, etc. Administrative tasks include sending bills, scheduling and confirming appointments, receiving patients, ordering dental equipment and supplies, receive payments, keep treatment records, etc.
Online dental courses also enable students to put rubber dams of teeth, remove extra cements used for filling, apply anesthetics for gums, remove sutures, etc. As a student in online dental school, you also need to perform laboratory duties like cleaning and polishing dental equipment, making temporary casts and crowns for teeth and mouth, etc. If you enroll in online dental colleges, you can study as per your convenience. However, you should ensure that the courses of online dental schools and colleges are recognized and accredited by the commission on Dental Accreditation of American Dental Association.
Online dental colleges also conduct academic programs such as:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS),
- Bachelor Degrees,
- Certificate Programs,
- Master’s Programs,
- PhD Programs,
- Post Doctorate Programs.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Dental Surgery is a four year course and the students need to study various topics such as Dental anatomy, social and ethical issues in dental practice, biochemistry, oral biology, fundamentals of periodontology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, basic pharmacology, pre-clinical endodontics, clinical microbiology, etc.
Bachelor Degrees
Students can enroll in two bachelor degrees, Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) and Degree Completion in Dental Hygiene. The curriculum of Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene includes specialization in community dental health, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, research, hospital dentistry, geriatric dentistry, etc.
After the completion of Degree Completion Dental Hygiene program, students can work as licensed dental hygienist. The course covers topics such as periodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral microbiology, hospital dentistry, and geriatric dentistry.
Certificate Programs
Various online dental colleges conduct certificate programs such as Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Dental Assisting Certificate Programs, Certificate in Dental Hygiene, General Practical Residency, Oral and maxillofacial surgery, etc. The duration of certificate programs is one year and the students will get advanced training and education in general dentistry through these programs.
Masters Programs
Online dental colleges offer some masters programs in Eendodontics, Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Operative Dentistry, Dental Hygiene Education, etc to the students. The coursework varies depending on the program you selected.
PhD Programs
Online dental colleges arrange PhD programs like Oral Biology and Oral Epidemiology to train students to become productive faculty members. The topics for online dental courses in oral biology include oral cavity, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, cellular and molecular biology, physiology, embryology, immunology, etc. The modern bio-medical research also identifies systemic relationship between health status, oral conditions, and diseases such as oral cavity, cancer, HIV, atherosclerosis, etc.
Post Doctorate Programs
Training programs for the Next Generation of Oral Health Researchers (NextGen) is the post doctorate programs offered by most of the online dental colleges. This program is meant for developing a successful, basic, independent, translational and clinical Oral Health Research Scholars. They can work as interactive scientists to address dental healthcare needs of the nation.
Dental Assistant Salary
The salaries of those who undergo training in online dental courses depend on negotiation skills of individual, location, employer, experience, and various other factors. However, as per US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average earning of a dentist is $1,884,446 per year.
Highly experienced certified dental assistants can earn around $43,857 per year.
Online Dental Colleges
You can find a number of colleges which offer online dental programs to the professionals and busy students. Some of such colleges are CDI College, Penn Foster Career School, New York University, Boston University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of South Dakota, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Northern Arizona University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Howard University, Ohio State University, University of New Haven, etc.