Oregon Dental Assistants Schools

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 25th, 2010

Dental assistants may prepare instrument trays for dentists, schedule patient appointments, maintain records and supplies, instruct patients on proper oral hygiene and care and perform other tasks chair-side to assist dentists, hygienists or other assistants. As there is no licensing required in Oregon, there is no legal educational requirement: many assistants learn their vocation on the job. According to the BLS, about a third of assistants work part time, freeing up dentists and hygienists to perform more complex tasks.

There are associate’s degrees and technical or trade diplomas available for dental assistants that take about a year to complete. But many tasks of the dental assistant are specific to a particular dental office or laboratory, and things like dental terminology and sterilization procedures can be learned on site. There are several dental assistant schools in Oregon.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Dental Assistants in Portland, Salem, Eugene and Gresham, Oregon may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center and Salem Hospital.