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Dental Hygenist Online Schools & Degrees

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About Dental Assistance Online Degree:
AS the name suggests, assistants work in the offices of professionals belonging to dental healthcare activities and help their operations run smoothly while providing their own dental skills and knowledge at the same time. They also perform different other operations which include providing dental advices to patients and may execute clerical insurance and billing responsibilities.

Online Dental degree programs for medical assistants last between one and two years, and end in earning a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. The coursework generally emphasizes on medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology, along with laboratory techniques, medical ethics, first aid, pharmaceutical principles, medication procedures, and diagnostic procedures. The coursework also includes administrative courses such as typing, record-keeping, and accounting.

Distance Learning Online Dental Assistance Programs:
Following is the list of courses being taught during the regular online dental assistant degree program. However different accredited online universities may offer concentrations on different subjects.

Introduction to Psychology
Head and Neck Anatomy
Human Biology
Dental Materials
Dental Radiography
Pre-Clinical Techniques
Dental Ethics and Business Skills
Microbiology
Computer Skills and Applications
Introduction to Histology and
Embryology
Pharmacology and Emergency
Care

Oral Pathology
Nutrition Counseling
Pharmacology and Emergency Care
Business English
CO-OP
Dental Terminology
Dental Anatomy & Physiology
Preventative Dentistry
Clinical Support
Dental Assisting Theory
Applied Dental Science
Preventive Dentistry

Earning Potential / Salary:
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the annual average salary of dental assistants in May 2008 was $32,380. Depending upon the nature of work, size of organization and experience the salary ranges from less than $22,270 to the highest of $46,150. In May 2006 per hour salary of a dental assistant was $14.53. Out of which:

The middle 50% dental assistant earned: $11.94 and $17.44 per hour
The lowest 10% dental assistant earned: $9.87 per hour
The highest 10% dental assistant earned: $20.69 per hour

Career Options in Dental Assistance:
BLS guarantees a steady growth in the dental assistant field in future. According to a report in 2008 stated that dental assistants held about 295,300 jobs. And about 93 percent of all jobs were in the offices of dentists. However there are also some jobs at government department. Graduates in dental assistant may work in:

Sole dental practice (with only one dentist)
Group dental practices (with more than one dental partner)
Highly skilled dental practices such as orthodontics, pediatric etc
Hospital dental facilities
Public health dentistry
Sales: selling of dental equipment to consumers, dentists, or other businesses
Teaching facility

Top Dental Assistance Online Schools:

Kaplan University
Virginia College
Keiser University eCampus
Online
Grand Canyon University
Penn Foster Schools
Stratford Career Institute
Ashworth College - Canada
Ashworth College - US

Herzing University Online
Daytona College Online
Fortis College
(Formerly known as RETS College)
Sacred Heart University - Online
San Joaquin Valley College Online
U.S. Career Institute - Online
Ultimate Medical Academy Online
A.T. Still University - Online

Dental Assistance Online Degree Variations:
Following is the list of degrees available in dental assistant:

Certificate - Online Dental Assistant