South Dakota Dental Assistant Schools and Salary Guide

While dental hygienists work one-on-one with patients, dental assistants assist by providing direct aid to them.

It is easy to enroll in a dental assistant school in South Dakota as these schools feature advanced dentistry programs.

Although the dental assistant salary in South Dakota entirely depends on a wide range of factors, the job rewards well.

The average base salary of dental assistants in South Dakota increases depending on the graduate’s certification level.

5 Dental Assistant Schools in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to many colleges and universities.

There are schools in this state that offer accredited dental programs.

Below are five dental assistant schools in South Dakota.

Lake Area Technical College

Lake Area Technical College is a public community college in Watertown, South Dakota.

The school’s curriculum meets South Dakota’s educational requirements for professional licensing.

Their in-state tuition fees are $6,862.

Lake Area Technical College offers an 11-month-long in-person Diploma or a part-time E-degree that takes seven semesters.

The college trains on dental topics such as:

• Dental and oral anatomy
• Basic life support
• Oral health
• Clinical skills
• Dental radiography

The good thing about studying dental assistant in South Dakota is that this state has a CODA-accredited program that helps when combined with other certifications.

With maximum time and flexibility, you can earn crucial hands-on dentistry experience.

To acquire certification from Lake Area Technical College, you will complete online courses and on-campus laboratory requirements.

It amounts to 12 days per semester.

You will also have to complete 300 hours of clinical experience in a dental office.

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota is known for its excellence in the Dental Hygiene program.

Their program provides one with the necessary dental assistant real-world skills to apply in various settings.

This university offers a two-year Bachelor’s of Science in dental hygiene.

The following are topics that they cover:

• Organic biochemistry
• Fundamentals of speech
• Human anatomy

To graduate, you must complete at least 3,500 hours of approved work.

The above topics help graduates become capable professionals who deliver high-quality care to their patients.

The University of South Dakota offers reasonable tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students. In-state students pay $18,856 while out-of-state students pay $22,366.

Through direct patient care that students learn at this university, they promote oral health in any setting they enter.

Western Dakota Technical College

The Western Dakota Technical College’s diploma curriculum in dental assistant equips graduates with good oral health practices.

This college trains dental assistants to work closely with dentists as they treat patients.

Their technical diploma curriculum takes one semester, and it covers the following topics:

• Dental radiography
• Oral hygiene
• Chairside skills
• Dental anatomy
• OSHA standards
• Communication skills

Graduates become certified after completing an examination by the Dental Assisting National Board.

The dental assistant program costs about $5,800, covering tuition and basic program fees. You may incur additional fees for stationery and testing.

Southeast Technical College

One requires one year to cover a dental assistant program at the Southeast Technical College, South Dakota.

Combined tuition and fees for this program amount to $7,470.

Southeast Technical College equips its graduates with a dental apprenticeship program that assists them in tracking their way to a dental career.

The curriculum covers:

• Dental therapeutics and medical emergencies
• Dental procedures and techniques
• Infection control
• Communications requirement

The Southeast Technical College trains dental assistants on how to provide direct patient care.

The program meets the standards of the South Dakota Dental Association with the help of the Southeastern District Dental Society.

Presentation College

For six months (240-course hours), Presentation College in South Dakota offers the dental assistant program.

The program goes for $1,995, inclusive of tuition and fees.

The course equips graduates with comprehensive skills for entry-level dental assistant positions.

One also learns critical foundational skills that are essential for patient care.

The course covers:

• Performing diagnostic coding
• Dental terminology
• Dental anatomy
• Procedural dental care

Upon completing this course at Presentation College, one can look for career opportunities to pursue in the dental assistant field.

Dental Assistant Schools in South Dakota – Summary Table

Dental Assistant Salary in South Dakota

Upon graduation, you acquire the necessary certification that will help you to become an advanced dental assistant.

To qualify, you will have to either possess a CDA certification or graduate from a CODA-accredited institution.

The earnings of dental assistants in South Dakota vary widely depending on the following factors:

• Certification
• Experience
• Location
• Education level
• Additional skills that one possesses

The average dental assistant salary in South Dakota is $40,809 as of April 26, 2022.

The range falls between $36,194 and $45,281.

To acquire the above salary, one requires 1 to 3 years of experience. Additional specialized training and certification come in handy too.

As a new dental assistant, your salary may not be as high as experienced ones.

However, Dental assistants in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city, earn more due to their location.

Regional Salary in South Dakota