Dental assisting department
Department Chair: Boyd, Linda
Instructor, Department Chair
925-685-1230 ext. 2420
LBoyd@dvc.edu
Division: Biological and Health Sciences
Location: SC-100
Phone: 925-685-1230 ext. 2230
Dental Assisting

The Diablo Valley College dental assisting program prepares students to work in a dental office as an essential member of the dental team. A dental assistant provides the dentist with both administrative and chair-side support.

As a dental assisting student you will develop an in-depth understanding of the wide variety of duties performed in the dental office.

Students will learn about:

  • office management
  • appointment scheduling
  • bookkeeping
  • the preparation of insurance claims
  • dental office supply purchasing
  • how to prepare patients for treatment
  • how to record health histories
  • the instrument sterilization process
  • equipment maintenance
  • how to mix various materials
  • x-ray technology
  • basic laboratory procedures


The DVC dental assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and by the United States Department of Education.

The ten-month program of classroom instruction and clinical experience in DVC's own dental facility is designed to prepare graduates for employment and for successful completion of the Dental Assisting National Board leading to qualification as a Certified Dental Assistant and for the Registered Dental Assistant Examination from the Dental Board of California.

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