Trade Schools
If you want to start a career in the dental assisting profession in Wyoming, this page is for you.
Employment for dental assistants is projected to grow 8 percent by 2033, resulting in 54,900 new job openings across the nation.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in this profession, you have to learn to perform the tasks that will be included in your job description, tasks such as:
- Preparing patients and work areas for procedures
- Sterilizing dental instruments
- Instructing patients on proper oral hygiene
- Processing x-rays
- Handing instruments to dentists during procedures
- Scheduling patient appointments
- And more
Wyoming is home to many schools that can prepare you for a career in this profession in only a few months through a combination of classroom and hands-on education.
The programs are typically flexible, to allow students to keep a full-time job while preparing for a new career.
Below we have compiled information about ten of the best options.
1Western Wyoming Community College
About the School
Western Wyoming Community College offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students to play a valuable role on any dental care team.
The fully online course helps students gain the technical skills needed to join the dental office as a clinical dental assistant.
Graduates are ready to pass the Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control components of the Certified Dental Assistant exam.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in the program:
- Introduction to the Practice of Dentistry
- Oral health and preventive techniques; etiology of dental disease
- Basic human physiology, embryology, and histology, head and neck anatomy
- Producing and processing quality radiographs
- Oral pathology and maxillofacial surgery
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 College Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901
- Phone: 307.382.1600
- Website: https://www.westernwyoming.edu
2Laramie County Community College
About the School
Laramie County Community College offers a Dental Assistant program that prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing health care careers.
Students become familiar with all areas of pre-clinical dental assisting and receive training in the professional skills required to function as an assistant.
The instruction covers the history of dentistry and dental assisting, introduction to the dental office and the dental team, legal aspects of guidance, laws, and ethics.
Students practice and learn about proper patient positioning, delivering comprehensive dental care, moisture control and anesthesia, and many other dental assisting tasks.
Dental Assistant training includes:
- 120 hours of classroom lecture
- 67.5 hours of laboratory application
- 30 hours of hands-on dental radiology
- 60 hours in the clinic working with a dentist and live patients
- 40 hours externship at a local dental office
Contact Information
- Address: 1400 E. College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007
- Phone: 800.522.2993
- Website: https://www.lccc.wy.edu
3Casper College
About the School
Casper College offers a Dental program through its Workforce Department.
The 300-hour program is self-paced and can be completed in 12 months.
Courses Offered
Students learn how to perform tasks such as:
- Describing the roles of each member of the dental team
- Defining the legal and ethical aspects of dental assisting
- Describing the chain of infection
- Using charting techniques to identify dental restorations and disease
- Setting up equipment for anesthesia and sedation
- Describing dental materials
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 125 College Drive, GW#408F, Casper, WY 82601 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://workforce.caspercollege.edu
4Western Dakota Technical College
Western Dakota Technical College is the only technical college that serves the western South Dakota region.
The college provides personal, career-oriented education.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assisting program at Western Dakota Technical College leads to a diploma and prepares students to be competent members of the dental healthcare team.
The program equips students with the skills to become Certified Dental Assistants in the state of South Dakota.
Dental assisting tasks include:
- Providing direct patient care
- Assisting during a variety of dental procedures
- Obtaining medical/dental histories
- Applying preventive agents
- Placing pit and fissure sealants
- And more
This program is approved by the South Dakota Board of Dentistry.
Those who want to practice outside of South Dakota are encouraged to check with the state licensing and certification requirements.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Mickelson Dr., Rapid City SD 57703
- Phone: (605) 718-2565
- Website: https://www.wdt.edu
5University of North Dakota
About the School
The University of North Dakota offers an online Clinical Dental Assisting program.
This fully online course helps students gain the technical skills they need to join a dental office as a clinical dental assistant.
Students prepare, through interactive courses, for the Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control components of the Certified Dental Assistant Exam.
The course has the following objectives:
- Preparing students for the Radiology and Infection Control portions of the Dental Assisting National Board.
- Sterilization and disinfection techniques and infection prevention
- Completing patient charting and taking vital signs
- And more
Courses Offered
The Clinical Dental Assisting curriculum includes the following topics:
- Overview of the Dental Profession
- Dental Health and Disease
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Basics of Dental Assisting
- Radiology
- Dental Materials
- Dental Office Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: O’Kelly Hall Room 300, 221 Centennial Dr Stop 9021, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9021
- Phone: 701.777.0488
- Website: https://und.edu
6Dakota County Technical College.
About the School
Dakota County Technical College offers a variety of degrees and programs.
Students may choose from day, evening, weekend, and online formats.
Short-term programs that can be completed in as little as six weeks are also available.
Courses Offered
The Dental Assistant program at Dakota County Technical College offers the following degree options:
- Dental Assistant- Associate in Applied Science Degree- a 60-credit program available online and on campus
- Dental Assistant- Diploma- a 40-credit program available online and on campus.
The Dental Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Dental assisting students take classes such as:
- Dental Science
- Pre-Clinical Dental Assisting
- Dental Health
- Dental Materials
- Chairside Assisting
- Dental Practice Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 145th Street East, Rosemount, MN 55068
- Phone: 651-423-8000
- Website: https://www.dctc.edu
7Mid-Plains Community College
About the School
Mid-Plains Community College offers an 11-month course of study that leads to a diploma in dental assisting.
Students also have the option of completing an Associate in Applied Science degree.
This program aims to prepare graduates to aid the dentist at the chair side during examinations and treatment of patients.
They also learn how to perform supportive laboratory and business office procedures.
Graduates meet all requirements for the practice of dental assisting, are x-ray certified and coronal polishing certified in the state of Nebraska, and are prepared to sit for the national certification exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board.
The curriculum meets the state educational requirements for several states, including Wyoming.
The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Courses Offered
The program has the following objectives:
- Perform tasks related to entry-level dental assisting employment
- Use effective communication skills
- Apply the theory of dental assisting to specific jobs
- Use mathematical data and reasoning skills in relation to dental assisting
- Be prepared to take external certification exams
- And more
Contact Information
- Address:1205 East Third St. McCook, NE 69001
- Phone: 308-345-8100
- Website: https://www.mpcc.edu
8Academy for Dental Assisting Careers
About the School
Academy for Dental Assisting Careers offers a dental assisting course that can be completed in just eight weeks.
The school has two practicing instructors and smaller class sizes to ensure personalized attention, enhancing learning outcomes and preparing students for their future careers in dental health.
The program has a hands-on training approach, combined with state-of-the-art facilities to provide an immersive learning experience.
Graduates can get a recommendation letter.
The hybrid online course is complemented by hands-on training.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, and complete an application form.
Courses Offered
The following Certifications are available:
- Certificate in Dental Assisting
- Certificate in Dental Radiology
The curriculum covers topics such as:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting
- Dental Anatomy
- Disease Transmission
- Instrument Processing
- Radiation Safety
- Oral Radiography
- Dental Instruments
- Restorative Procedures
- Pain and Anxiety Control
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2011 Ken Pratt Blvd., Ste #200 Longmont, CO 80501
- Phone: 303-774-8100
- Website: https://www.academyfordentalassistingcareers.com
9University of Montana
About the School
An online Dental Assistant program is also available at the University of Montana.
The university offers online non-credit training for students who want to become dental assistants.
The fully online course is designed to prepare students with the technical skills to join a dental office as clinical dental assistants.
After successfully completing this course, students receive a voucher to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, Physiology, Infection Control, and Radiation Health and Safety portions of the Dental Assisting National Board exams.
The program fee is $2,995.
The program includes 300 hours of online instruction.
Students received 12 months of online, self-paced access to the classes.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes classes on:
- The Dental Profession
- Communication Skills
- Ethics for the Dental Assistant
- Basic Dental Sciences
- Dental Anatomy
- Oral Pathology
- Infection Control
- Caring for Exceptional Patients
- Dental Instruments
- Introduction to Chairside Assisting
- Preventive Care
- Dental Specialties
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 103 S. 9th Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840
- Phone: (406) 375-0100
- Website: https://www.umt.edu
10Midlands Technical College
About the School
Midlands Technical College offers more than 150 programs through its eight schools of study.
Students have access to a flexible schedule with online, virtual, in-person, and hybrid classes.
Programs and courses are available in the following fields:
- Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades
- Education and Public Service
- Health Care
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Business
- English and Humanities
- Science, Information Technology, Engineering, and Math
- Interdisciplinary Studies
The college also provides an Expanded Duties Dental Assisting program that leads to a Diploma in Applied Science.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Contact Information
- Address: 151 Powell Road, Columbia, SC 29203
- Phone: 803.738.8324
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu
Regional Salary in Wyoming
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | 100 | $48,330 | $23.23 | $60,110 | $36,430 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 120 | $46,190 | $22.21 | $59,650 | $34,660 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a dental assisting career in Wyoming there are plenty of schools that can prepare you for entry-level employment through in-person or online programs.
Now that you have read our list of the best training options available, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
