
Our Programs Overview
DENTAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM (13 WEEKS)
Discover A New Level Of Hands on Dental Assisting

Dental Anatomy and Terminology
Students will learn dental anatomy and terminology. Dentition, names, numbers, surfaces, both primary and permanent. OHSA requirements, sterilization procedures, autoclaving of instruments and disinfection of treatment areas.
12 Clock Hours
Back Office and Procedure Set Ups
Students will learn instrument identification and receive hands on training in four-handed dental assisting for important procedures, such as fillings, crowns, root canals, sealants, oral surgery, and orthodontics. Students will receive training on CPR, vitals, intraoral camera, clinical charting, and periodontal pocket charting. Students will perform live coronal polishing on permanent and primary dentition.
60 Clock Hours
Front Office Training
Front office training will intel learning how to work the front desk in the dental office. Hands on training with Dentrix dental software, scheduling patients, how to answer phone calls, and entering insurance information.
12 Clock Hours
Impressions and Models
Hands on training with impression materials, trimming lab models, and fabricating bleach trays and mouth guards. Students will learn about teeth whitening in this segment along with how the appointment goes and what the dental assistants roll is with teeth whitening.
12 Clock Hours
Dental Radiography
Students will learn the importance of radiation safety, precautions, exposure errors, anatomy, intraoral and extraoral radiographs, infection control and how to use different types of film holders. Students will also gain hands on training with digital radiography equipment.
44 Clock Hours
Job Placement Support
Job placement presentation. Interviewing skills on how to prepare for a job interview, including proper dress, do’s and don’ts of an interview, resume preparation and a professional head shot.
4 Clock Hours
Open Procedure Week
Open procedure week will allow you to work on any procedure learned during the program to give you more confidence before you complete the Academy.
8 Clock Hours
Total Clock Hours = 152
8:1
STUDENT INSTRUCTION RATIO
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American Heart Association CPR Certification included in tuition​
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DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam Fee included in tuition​
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DANB Arizona Coronal Polishing (AZCP) Exam Fee included in tuition
A career as a Dental Assistant will give you the opportunity to play a critical role in a clinical environment, avoid boredom, and experience exciting change every day.
This Dental Assistant Program was thoughtfully handcrafted to provide a strong marketable foundation in radiographic, chair side, front office, and laboratory procedures.
Our job placement support program is carefully designed to help you market your new dental qualifications to separate you from the crowd, sharpen your job interview skills and provide you with a professional resume.
You can be fully equipped to prosper in the dental field in just 13 weeks at Desert Dental & Health Academy.
PHLEBOTOMY PROGRAM
(4 WEEKS)
Discover A New Level Of Hands on in Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy Introduction
8 Clock Hours
Students will learn the foundation of phlebotomy. Safety, infection control, HIPAA, and professionalism will be the focus on the first day. Students will get hands on with basic phlebotomy supplies and learn how to perform a safe venipuncture with proper technique.
Phlebotomy Training
21 Clock Hours
Students will learn how to prepare the patient, proper cleaning techniques, finding the vein, and the order of draw. In addition to these techniques, students will learn how to ensure every draw is a quality specimen, as well as common risks and challenges the phlebotomist may encounter. Students will learn advanced skills such as capillary draws, culture collection, and fluid collection. We will discuss the difference between lab types, and basic lab functions. Students will also learn how to take patient vitals and perform CPR.
Job Placement
3 Clock Hours
Job placement presentation. Interviewing skills on how to prepare for a job interview, including proper dress, do’s and don’ts of an interview, resume preparation and a professional head shot.
10:1
STUDENT INSTRUCTION RATIO
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American Heart Association CPR Certification included in tuition​
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CPT National Certification Exam fee included in tuition
Phlebotomy Certification Examination Information
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The Academy proctors the CPT Exam on site, and the cost of the CPT exam is included in tuition.
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CPT Certification Final Exam - 100 Questions (3 Attempts - 120 Minute Timed Exam)
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National exams are 100 questions in length. Exam questions are randomized and will not always be the same. You have 120 minutes to complete the exam. You are provided three attempts to pass the National Certification Exam. You must score an 85% or better to become certified.
Any costs associated with repeating the exams, is the student’s full responsibility.
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Requirements to take the CPT exam are:
High School Diploma or GED
Have a clean background (Case by case)
Completion of a Phlebotomy Training Program or 1 year of on-the-job experience in the past 3 years
30 successful blood draws
10 successful capillary sticks
Click to learn more about Phlebotomy Program requirements, class schedule, tuition, payment options or job opportunities
ORTHODONTICS PROGRAM
Discover A New Level Of Hands on Orthodontics

WHAT IS ORTHODONTICS?
Orthodontics is a specialty branch of dentistry that deals with recognition, prevention, diagnosis, correction, and treatment of malalignment and irregularities of teeth, jaws, and face. Learn how an orthodontist can straighten teeth with different types of braces. The backbone to every orthodontic office is the orthodontic assistant! The roll of an orthodontic assistant is very hands on with the patients.
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SOME OF WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THE ORTHODONTICS PROGRAM:
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Orthodontic assistant duties
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Orthodontic numbering system
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Phases of orthodontics
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Orthodontic work ups
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Types of braces
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Orthodontic Instrument Identification
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Orthodontic appliances
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Care and Hygiene for fixed and removable appliances
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Arch wires
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Banding and Bonding
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Different bracket systems
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Tying patients with wires and elastics
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Placing and removing separators
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Lots of hands-on experience!
Our orthodontic class is offered to ALL dental assistants!
To join the Orthodontics class, you MUST have dental assisting experience or have gone through dental assisting school and must know basic dental terminology and anatomy. (Teeth names, numbers/letters, surfaces etc.)
- The Orthodontics program is strictly for academic improvement or used for a dental assistant to improve their job opportunities.
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-Our Orthodontics program is a separate class from the Dental Assistant Program.
Click to learn more about Orthodontics Program requirements, class schedule, tuition, payment options or job opportunities