Dental Assisting (UC "g")
Preparation and internship for students who aspire to be dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists. Acquire chair-side assisting skills, laboratory, and x-ray capabilities. Qualified students may earn state certification in radiation safety and infection control. Dental Assisting is in demand and is one fast-growing profession, there are many dental pathways. There is a demand for Dental Assistants, both at entry-level and as skills and experience advance. Assistants progress in the occupation becoming a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Registered Dental Assistant Extended Function (RDAEF), Orthodontic Assistant (OA), Dental Sedation Assistant (DSA), Hygienist, Lab Technician, a Dentist and even possibly a Teacher. The class focuses on academic, technical skills, and employability practices. Students will develop personal and professional skills in the classroom that will transfer to the workplace:
- How to take impressions
- How to take, process, and mount both standard and digital x-rays
- How to pour and trim study models
- How to seat patients and set up treatment trays
- How to sterilize instruments to OSHA standards
- How to interact with other students and work in teams
- How to work with a dentist, utilizing four-handed dentistry techniques
- How to assemble bleaching trays
- Employability skills and resume writing
- SkillsUSA membership and competition opportunities
Certifications Earned Within the Class
Dental AssistingCertifications Earned Within the Class![]()
Dental Assisting
Certifications Earned Within the Class
- Course competency certificate
- California State Radiation Safety certificate
- California State Infection Control certificate
- CPR
Class Benefits
Dental AssistingClass Benefits![]()
Dental Assisting
Class Benefits
- 30 high school credits earned per year
- Develop skills leading to a highly-paid, high-demand job
Earned Outside of (Following) the Class
Dental AssistingEarned Outside of (Following) the Class![]()
Dental Assisting
Earned Outside of (Following) the Class
- CPR
- Dental practice act
- Coronal polishing
- Pit & fissure
- Registered dental assistant (RDA)
- Registered dental assistant expanded function (RDAEF)
- Dental hygienist (RDH)
- Orthodontic assistant (OA)
- Dental sedation assistant (DSA)
- Dentist
- Dental laboratory technician
Job Opportunities Upon Completion
Dental AssistingJob Opportunities Upon Completion![]()
Dental Assisting
Job Opportunities Upon Completion
- Dental assistant
- Front office
- Billing
- Treatment coordinator
- Dental sales
- Sterilization tech
Dental Assisting Flyer
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download the
Dental Assisting Flyer
Dental Assisting Curriculum
check outDental Assisting Curriculum![]()
check out
Dental Assisting Curriculum
About the Instructors
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Learn More
About the Instructors
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Gina FlemingDental Assisting Teacher |
Bio:An SVCTE alumna and seasoned dental professional, Gina brings more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Dental Assistant Extended Function (RDAEF) to the classroom. Since 2001, she has been dedicated to teaching Dental Assisting at SVCTE, helping students build the technical skills and confidence needed to succeed in the dental industry. With extensive hands-on experience in the field, Gina combines real-world industry knowledge with a passion for Career Technical Education. As both a former student and longtime instructor at SVCTE, she is proud to guide the next generation of dental professionals and continue the legacy of the program that helped shape her own career journey.
Why do you teach Career and Technical Education?I love giving back to the younger generation and watching them explore their career paths. Seeing their passion is all worthwhile, and it's rewarding to teach students eager to pursue a future in the medical field. |
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Amanpreet AtwalDental Assisting Teacher |
Bio:A proud graduate of SVCTE’s Dental Assisting program from 2005 to 2006, Amanpreet Atwal brings firsthand experience and industry knowledge to the classroom. With 18 years of experience in the dental industry, Atwal spent much of his career working in various dental offices, gaining extensive knowledge of modern dental practices. From 2022 to 2025, he taught Dental Assisting at Unitek College before returning to SVCTE in August 2025 as an instructor.
For Atwal, returning to SVCTE is a full-circle moment and an opportunity to give back to the place where his professional journey first began. In addition to his clinical and teaching experience, he also launched a startup focused on dental fraud awareness. Today, he brings his passion for the dental industry into the classroom, helping prepare the next generation of students for successful careers in the field.
Why do you teach Career and Technical Education?I teach CTE to ensure my students are 'office-ready' on day one. By blending hands-on clinical practice with foundational dental science, I help them master everything from four-handed dentistry to digital imaging, preparing them for the dynamic environment of a modern practice
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