How to Become a Dental Assistant in Tennessee

Dental Assistants do more than just assist the dentists during operations; these professionals are also in charge of all the little things that keep the dental clinic running smoothly.

Suppose you are planning to become a dental assistant in Tennessee. In that case, you have a wide array of options that you can pursue throughout your career.

Regardless of your classification and experience, these are some of the primary day-to-day duties you would be responsible for:

• Scheduling appointments
• Providing post-procedural information and answering patient questions
• maintaining medical records
• perform administrative duties
• clinical duties
• Preparing patient’s treatment rooms and sanitizing dental equipment as needed
• Helping the dentist or dental hygienist during oral healthcare procedures
• Assisting patients with payment processes

Requirements and Certifications in Dental Assisting in Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry is the governing body that regulates all dental health professionals in Tennessee.

They provide rules and policies that ensure dental assistants are qualified for their duties and uphold the profession to a necessary standard.

There are a couple of classifications in dental assisting in Tennessee; here is a comprehensive list with a description for each:

Practical Dental Assistant 

To become a Practical Dental Assistant, you need to either be enrolled as a student in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program or be employed by a licensed dentist while receiving relevant chairside dental assisting training.

Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) 

To become an RDA, you must have proof that you are at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED certificate, have completed a Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR/AED course, and registered with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, and passed the Board’s Jurisprudence exam.

Registered Dental Assistant Qualified to Perform Expanded Functions 

RDAs who wish to further their careers can study and train for more in-depth qualifications and duties in dental assisting. There are six areas of specialization with their state certifications that dental assistants can be qualified to perform upon completion of specific requirements.

Dental Radiology Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must:

(1) be a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and either

(3a) take and pass a Board-approved dental radiology course,

(3b) enroll in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program with a course in dental radiology,

(3c) complete the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, or

(3d) have an existing DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification.

Coronal Polishing Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must;

(1) be a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA),

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and either

(3a) take and pass a Board-approved coronal polishing course or (3b) enroll in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program with a course in coronal polishing.

Monitoring Nitrous Oxide Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must;

(1) be a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA),

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and either

(3a) take and pass a Board-approved nitrous oxide monitoring course or

(3b) enroll in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program with a course in monitoring nitrous oxide.

Sealant Application Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must;

(1) be a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA),

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and either

(3a) take and pass a Board-approved sealant application course or (3b) enroll in a CODA-accredited dental assisting program with a course in applying dental sealants.

Prosthetic Functions Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must;

(1) be employed as a full-time Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) for a minimum of two years during the time of application,

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and

(3) take and pass a Board-approved prosthetic functions course*.

Restorative Functions Certification 

To qualify for this certification, you must;

(1) be employed as a full-time Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) for a minimum of two years during the time of application,

(2) apply for state certification from the Board of Dentistry, and

(3) take and pass a Board-approved restorative functions course*.

*Courses for both the Prosthetic and Restorative Functions Certifications can also be attained by registered dental hygienists.

Becoming a dental hygienist is an option for dental assistants who wish to advance in this career path.

After you have familiarized yourself with dental care basics, training to become a dental hygienist will qualify you to perform extensive duties, clinical duties, and responsibilities and is a lucrative step to take.

Dental Assisting Program and Dental Assistant Schools in Tennessee

There are currently six CODA-accredited dental assisting programs in Tennessee:

Chattanooga State Community College

• Chattanooga State Community College
• Northeast State Tech. Community College
• South College
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Knoxville
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Memphis
• Volunteer State Community College

Aside from these six Commission on Dental Accreditation dental assisting programs, online institutes are also an excellent alternative to jumpstart your career in dental assisting and earn those certifications.

Schools such as Penn Foster offer dental assisting fully online-based programs, making them more convenient for those whose schedules are suited for online schooling.

Salary and Career Outlook of Dental Assistants

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dental assistants employed in the U.S. earn an average of $41,180 per year, amounting to around $19.80 per hour. This number fluctuates according to location, but some of the highest-earning professionals reported a yearly salary of up to $58,390. There are around 330,200 dental assistants employed nationwide as of this writing. The long-term job outlook for this occupation looks optimistic, with a very high national average of 11 percent.

Working as a Dental Assistant in Tennessee

Dental assistants perform a wide range of duties and are well-trained in their areas of specialization. Because of this, there is always a need for competent professionals in medical and dental centers. Several clinics in Tennessee are urgently looking to hire dental assistants, especially in Nashville, Memphis, and Spring Hill.

Related:

• En español
• Dental Schools in Tennessee
• Dental assistant salaries in Tennessee
• Dental hygiene schools in Tennessee

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