Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant program is currently full for the fall semester. We encourage you to consider applying for our spring 2025 semester.


Why Consider a Dental Assistant Degree?

  • Dentists need trained staff to prepare patients undergoing routine and emergency dental procedures. 
  • Your interest in dentistry and the enjoyment you feel while caring for others can add value to a dental practice.
  • In addition to sterilizing and setting up instruments, monitoring supply inventories, gathering ,and recording information, you may explain technical information to patients.
  • You will gain experience using medical software and equipment needed for many activities.

Why Learn at Lakeshore? 

  • This program is offered through our flexible competency-based education (CBE) format, allowing you to learn when you want to, progress at your own pace, and receive personalized coaching and support.
  • Start when it’s convenient for you, almost any month of the year.
  • Learn from instructors who are experienced dental professionals.
  • In a clinical setting with patients, you’ll apply the skills you develop.
  • Assist patients receiving services in our onsite Lakeshore Community Dental Clinic.

What It Takes

  • Desire to help others
  • Attention to detail
  • Interest in using different types of technology
  • Ability to identify and detect changes in circumstances or events
Career Area
Health Science
Type
Technical Diploma
Program Number
30-508-3
Availability
CBE
  • Technical Diploma
  • 1 Terms 
  • 16 Credits
  • Financial Aid Eligible
  • Starts fall / Spring

Fall 2024 CBE Schedule

Spring 2025 CBE Schedule


*Please note the formal program name within the course catalog is Dental Assisting. 

Career Outlook

Dental Assistant

Median Income: $39,891.00*
 

POTENTIAL JOB TITLES

(Click a title for job description)

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

 


Disclosure:

*As with any survey data, the wages presented here are prone to error and sampling bias. Educational decisions should not be entirely based on the data presented here. Graduate Outcome Survey data is from 2021-22 Lakeshore graduates.

ADMISSION AND FIRST SEMESTER ENROLLMENT STEPS

Work with Admissions Advisor to:

  • Submit Application.
  • Select Dental Assisting from catalog.
  • Complete the Background Check process and pay the applicable processing fee.
  • Complete the Student Success Questionnaire.
  • Complete Technical Standards form.
  • Schedule your First Time Program Counseling/Registration Session with your assigned program counselor to plan your first semester schedule, review your entire plan of study and discuss the results of the Student Success Questionnaire.

*Submit transcripts and test scores (optional, highly recommended): College transcripts, along with high school transcripts and test scores from within the last five years, used for course registration. Official transcripts needed for transferring college credit(s) and for financial aid purposes.

Program Cost

  • Tuition Cost: $2,889.27
  • Book Cost: $528.00
  • Supply Cost: $185.00
  • Program Total: $3,602.27

Want more information?

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION is a learning model offering far more flexibility than traditional models. Fitting college around your work and personal commitments is possible because CBE allows you to:

  • Learn When You Want To
  • Progress at Your Own Pace
  • Receive Personalized Coaching & Support  

Learn More About CBE

Faculty Bios

Instructor Bios Books

Beth Koopman

Being a Dental Assisting Program Coordinator and Instructor means I get to use my past and present experiences in the dental field to help teach and mentor students into being successful students and future Dental Assistants!

Learn More About This Instructor