Contact Us To Learn More About NYS Registered Dental Assisting Careers!

The New York School for Medical and Dental Assistants located in Queens, New York serves Dental Assisting students in Manhattan, New Jersey, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens and offers a New York State licensure-qualifying program in Dental Assisting.

Call Us To Enroll: 718-793-2330.

About NYSMDA’s Dental Assisting Program

At the New York School for Medical and Dental Assisting, we have been training Dental Assistants for more than fifty (50) years.  Over this time we have determined that the best way to make an assistant ready for the workforce is to put them through a rigorous 600 hour in-school training program that includes both lecture and lab classes and then send them into the field to complete an externship at dental offices where they are able to do hands-on training in modern well equipped dental offices.  Over the years we have developed a vast network of dentists who have different specialties who want to train our students and then hire them to work in their offices. This allows our students the option to select the specialty area where they want to start their career. The school has externships available in Pediatrics, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, General Dentistry and Multi-Specialty Practices.  The question of how to find a job without any experience is solved by NYSMDA’s method of sending students on externship where they can obtain experience and then using the school’s superior network of dental facilities to place them in a position.

NYSMDA is one of the few NYS licensure qualifying programs in the area.  There are approximately 20,000 dental assistants in New York State. However, according to the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions, as of 7-1-19 there were only 1,513 licensed dental assistants in New York State.  As a result, unlicensed dental assistants qualify for fewer jobs and must accept less pay. When choosing a dental assisting program, it is very important that you choose a licensure qualifying program like the one at NYSMDA. We will go into greater detail about licensing below. Click the attached link for Details regarding the distribution of licensed dental assistants in New York State.

Is Dental Assisting Right for You?

Dental Assistants have a variety of duties including providing patient care, taking x-rays, keeping dental records and scheduling appointments.  A Dental Assistants’ job is detail oriented and assistants must follow specific rules and protocols, such as infection control procedures when helping treat patients.  Dexterity in a Dental Assistant is important an assistant must work well with their hands. Assistants work in a tight space on a small part of the body with precise instruments.  Dental Assistants must be considerate when working with patients who are sensitive to pain or have a fear of undergoing dental treatment. Dental Assistants must pay attention to patients and other healthcare workers.  They need to follow directions from a dentist or dental hygienist to help treat patients and perform tasks, such as taking x-rays.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of Dental Assistants is projected to grow eleven (11%) percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.  Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventative dental services. Dentists will continue to hire dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing dentists to work more efficiently.  As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.

Study at a College Where You Can Become Registered

Our Registered Dental Assistant Program is a licensure-qualifying program approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), under the provisions of the Office of the Professions (OP).  Graduates of the program are eligible to take the New York Professional Dental Assisting Exam, leading to the New York State Dental Assisting License.

When enrolling in a Dental Assisting Program it is very important that you enroll in a program that will enable you to become a New York State Licensed Registered Dental Assistant.  Non-Registered Dental Assistants are not allowed to perform many tasks in a dental office that Licensed Dental Assistants are able to perform. Therefore, Licensed Dental Assistants usually have duties that are more varied, interesting and challenging than their non-licensed counterparts.  Because of this Non-Registered Dental Assistants are qualified for fewer jobs and must accept lower paying jobs than NYS Registered Dental Assistants.

A New York State Licensed Registered Dental Assistant may perform the following tasks:

• Provide patient education

• Take preliminary medical histories and vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist

• Place and remove rubber dams

• Select and prefit provisional crowns

• Select and prefit orthodontic bands

• Remove orthodontic arch wires and ligature ties

• Place and remove matrix bands

• Take impressions for study casts or diagnostic casts

• Remove periodontal dressings

• Remove sutures place by a licensed dentist

• Take impression for space maintainers, orthodontic appliances and occlusal guards

• Remove temporary cement

• Apply topical anticariogenic agents to the teeth

• Apply desensitizing agents to the teeth

• Place and remove temporary separating devices

• Place orthodontic ligatures

• Take dental x-rays in accordance with Public Health Law

• Perform such other dental supportive services authorized by the dentist and consistent with New York State laws, rules and regulations.

By comparison, a non-licensed Dental Assistant may not perform patient services independently or perform any tasks that are within the scope of practice on any licensed profession.  The unlicensed dental assistant may provide supportive services with a dentist who is personally performing the service or procedure and is physically present at the chair side and attending to the patient.  An unlicensed dental assistant acts as an extra pair of hands for the dentist during procedures, performing tasks such as suctioning excess saliva, providing instruments, or holding a matrix strip or curing lamp while the dentist is practicing on the patient.  This is referred to as four handed dentistry and may only be performed while the dentist is physically attending to the patient with the dental assistant. In short, a non-licensed Dental Assistant is never allowed to “get in the mouth of the patient” even if being supervised by a dentist nor are they ever allowed to do anything without the dentist being in the room.  Therefore, it is so important to attend a program that is a licensure qualifying program. Click on link for a list of schools with NYS Licensure Qualifying Dental Assisting Programs.

To become a NYS Licensed Dental Assistant you must graduate from a licensure qualifying program and  pass all three licensure qualifying exams. The first exam is on Infection Control (IC), the second exam is Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and the third exam is the New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) Exam.  The curriculum is designed so that each exam is taken shortly after you have finished the applicable topic. The Microbiology and Infection Control course is in the first module and shortly after taking this course you will be scheduled for the exam.  In addition to the in-class instruction the faculty also provides students with optional review courses outside of the mandated state curriculum. Our students find these review courses to be very helpful in passing these exams and becoming Registered Dental Assistants.  The Radiation Health and Safety Exam is taken at the end of the third module. Radiology I is taken in the second module and Radiology II is taken in the third module and the exam is taken just after the third module. The New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) Exam is taken after the fourth module and it is the most difficult of the three exams.  In addition to providing our students with review courses, as part of tuition the school pays for each student’s exam fees as well as a subscription to the Dale Foundation Tests for each exam. The Dale Foundation is an organization that supplies test takers with sample licensure qualifying exams. 

These exams are rigorous exams and most of our students who pass the exams spend an additional two (2) hours of study time for every hour of in class instruction.  The schools Microbiology course is a thirty (30) hour course. A student should spend an additional sixty (60) hours outside of class studying for this exam. The two radiology courses are a combined 105 hours; therefore, a student should spend an additional 210 hours studying outside of class for this exam.  The other dental assisting related courses in the curriculum total 300 hours; therefore, an additional 600 hours should be spent studying outside of class to prepare for the NYPDA exam. The school provides an excellent curriculum and additional review courses to assist in passing these exams. However, the task of mastering the material at an acceptable level to pass an exam is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Clinical Skills Learned at the New York School for Medical and Dental Assisting

MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION CONTROL 

This course is designed to prepare the student in all aspects of preventing disease transmission in the work environment. Emphasis is placed on knowledge of the infectious process, the use of barriers, sterilization techniques and disinfection. The students will learn the different characteristics of bacteria, protozoa, yeasts, molds and viruses. The students will also learn the different routes of disease transmission, infection control procedures, disinfection techniques and sterilization techniques, as well as proper personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, students will also learn about OSHA guidelines, and standards and policies on the bloodborne pathogens and the hazardous materials guidelines.

DENTAL MATERIALS 

This course focuses on the nature, qualities, and composition of modern dental materials, their manipulation, and how this assists the dental assistant in their professional duties. The primary goal of this course is to enhance the student’s ability to make clinical judgments regarding the use and care of dental materials, based on how they react in the oral environment. Topics include: dental material standards; dental material properties; direct and indirect restorative dental materials; preventive dental agents; impression materials; gypsum products; mouth guards and whitening systems; dental bases, cements, and liners; temporary restorations; polishing procedures for dental restorations; fixed and removable dental prostheses; sealants; implants; adjunct dental materials; and quality assurance for dental materials.

INTRODUCTION TO CHAIRSIDE ASSISTING 

This course provides didactic and laboratory instruction in all aspects of chairside assisting, including pre-clinical knowledge and entry level skills, advancing to the application of theoretical knowledge and principles of restorative dentistry. Content and skills will progress in relation to the complexity of the procedures and, accordingly, the student gains practical experience. The theoretical and practical content of this course includes: four-handed techniques; use and care of dental equipment; practical application of sterilization and disinfection techniques; basic hand and rotary instruments; and assisting with preliminary and restorative procedures.

PHARMACOLOGY AND DENTAL EMERGENCIES 

This course is designed to teach students to identify medical and dental emergencies in the dental office. The focus is on pharmacology and its mechanics of how drugs work within the body and the DA’s responsibility to obtain an accurate medical history from patients and carefully document both prescription drugs and those purchased over the counter. Students will also learn about treatments of local and topical anesthesia, indications and contraindications, and anesthetic agents.

DENTAL RADIOLOGY I & II

This course encompasses the didactic, preclinical and clinical instruction in radiation. The instruction progresses from a practical explanation of the physics of radiation production to the technique, focusing on paralleling and bisecting techniques. All aspects of developing and mounting x-rays are thoroughly covered.  Manikins are utilized to allow students to achieve consistent proficiency prior to accepting outpatients. In addition, the students will have the opportunity to learn about dental radiography and equipment, as well as safety and infection prevention related to taking and processing dental x-rays. The students will learn about digital and manual radiology and processing and developing dental images, as well as mounting and evaluating radiographs. 

Students will be able to take, process, and develop radiographs on simulated manikins utilizing all techniques of dental radiology including; Parallel, Bitewing, Bisecting, and Occlusal techniques. They will also learn to identify imaging errors. The students will be able to apply their skills and knowledge by practicing on one another.

DENTAL SPECIALTY PROCEDURES 

This course focuses on chairside assisting with dental specialty procedures. Topics include: prosthodontic procedures (fixed and removable); orthodontics; pediatric dentistry; periodontic procedures; oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures; endodontic procedures; management of dental office emergencies; and medically compromised patients.