Student Section

Dental Assistant Course Details

Nacogdoches Dental Assistant School’s mission is to provide our students with a comprehensive education covering all of the topics and procedures they will encounter in their new careers. Topics covered in our course include:

Sterilization and Infection Control

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Moisture Control

Dental Anatomy and Physiology

Radiology

Charting

Dental Instruments

Restorative Techniques

Proper Oral Hygiene

Preventative Care (including sealants)

Procedural Post-Operative Instructions

CPR, Pain Management, and More

Dental Assistant Externship

Nacogdoches Dental Assistant School’s 40-hour externship program provides our students with the real-world experience they need to become confident and qualified dental assistants. The externship portion of our course allows our students the opportunity to work under the direct guidance of experienced dental professionals in a local dental office. Students are eligible to begin their externships after class 6. Although we encourage our students to find their own externships, our Student Success Specialists are here to help our students identify potential opportunities in the area and assist with applications.

Required Reading

You are required to either purchase or rent the Essentials of Dental Assisting textbook for class.The workbook must be purchased and cannot be rented because you will be writing in it. Both ElSevier and Amazon offer a discount on a package bundle. ElSevier can take 3-4 weeks to ship, whereas Amazon offers faster shipping. You may purchase (or rent) your books elsewhere as long as it is the same edition used in the course.

Purchase on ElSevier

Purchase on Amazon

Cover photo of the Essentials of Dental Assisting 6th Edition

What Do I Get After Graduation?

We are licensed and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), so you will receive a certification of completion and you will be BLS Certified through the American Heart Association. We are an approved radiology course through the state, so you will qualify to sit for the RDA exam after graduation to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) upon passing that state exam.

Let's Get Started

Meet Your Team

Shannon Y.

Hi! My name is Shannon and I am a Social Media & Admissions Specialist. I just finished my Masters in Media & Communications in London. I love traveling and all things creative from photography to videos and music. I feel lucky I get to come to work everyday and work on my passions AND help students get an awesome education.

Kristal A.

My name is Kristal and I work in the Student Services department. I love helping our students succeed in class and then ultimately succeed in revamping, refreshing, or beginning their careers in the dental field! My alma maters are UC Davis and Penn State and, if I could, I would be a career student. I love to travel, read historical fiction and anything by Anne Rice, enjoy spewing fun facts about wildlife and music, and, most of all, I love spending time with my husband and daughter (especially if we are at the beach).

Dr. Thomas Ince

Dr. Thomas Ince developed an innovative program designed to be taught inside working practices in order to produce better Allied Health professionals. He enjoys reading, basketball, business, investing, chess and most importantly spending time with his wife and two little girls.