| |
DENTAL ASSISTANT |
DENTAL HYGIENIST |
DENTIST |
| Focus |
chairside assistant to dentist; business assistant; infection control;
dental laboratory procedures; patient education |
provide direct patient care including: patient education; preventive and
therapeutic oral health services |
leader
of the oral health care team; provides educational, preventive,
therapeutic oral health services |
|
Education |
high
school diploma or GED equivalent; keyboarding; English and science
requirements; admissible to IUPUI |
varies
in different states; in Indiana: pre-requisites in college plus two
years in dental hygiene program; |
4
years dental school after undergraduate college courses; must take
Dental Admissions Test |
| Degree |
Certificate
in Dental Assisting; must be certified in dental radiology in order to
take dental
x-rays
optional certificate as Expanded Duties Dental Assistant
|
Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene; includes radiology requirement
Bachelor Degree completion program in Public Health Dental Hygiene |
Doctor
of Dental Surgery; includes radiology requirement |
|
Possible Roles |
office
manager;
chairside
assistant;
expanded
duties dental assistant;
patient education; taking x-rays; dental laboratory work |
private practice hygienist, or dental hygienist in a hospital, public
health agency, educational institution, or research facility
|
private practice dentist or dentist in hospital, public health clinics,
educational institutions, academia |
|
Certification/Licensure |
Certified Dental
Assistant |
Licensed Dental
Hygienist |
Licensed Dentist |
|
Approximate Pay Scale |
*average
salary in Indiana $15.00/hr;
EFDA
$16-$25/hr
|
**average annual salary varies depending on geographic location; median
salary in Indiana reported as $28-$30/hr. |
***US
average for general dentist $174,350/year |
|
Programs offered at IUSD |
Full-time;
Distance Learning;
Expanded
functions;
Bachelor
completion program available through IUPUI |
Full-time Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene program; Bachelors Degree
program offered on a part-time basis |
Full
time Doctor of Dental Surgery program |