Orthodontic Assistant Training Course

Overview

Orthodontic Assistant Training is a continuing education program whose goal is for the dental assistant to acquire practical knowledge and dexterity as an assistant to the orthodontist under direct supervision. Completing it benefits you in two ways: it strengthens your resume and professional preparation, leading to better job opportunities and a higher salary as an orthodontic assistant; and it gives you the knowledge to apply to the Board of Dental Assistants in Orthodontics (note that in Florida this is not a mandatory requirement to work as an orthodontic assistant). The program is divided into four levels, each focusing on different clinical and laboratory aspects, with an intensive option that covers Levels 1 to 3 over two consecutive days.

Who’s this course for?

• Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs): enhance your qualifications and expand your career opportunities by specializing in orthodontics.
• Dental assistants seeking career advancement: gain valuable skills and knowledge to pursue higher-paying orthodontic-assistant positions.
• Individuals interested in orthodontic assisting: new to the dental field but passionate about orthodontics? This course provides a solid foundation for your career.

Requirements

• There are no formal prerequisites. A Dental Assistant certification or licensure (Registered Dental Assistant, RDA) is ideal to maximize the benefits of this program.
• Basic dental-assisting knowledge: familiarity with dental procedures, sterilization protocols and patient interaction is beneficial.

What’s included?

• Materials: all practice materials (brackets, bands, models, instruments and tweezers), plus guidance to practice as a dental assistant or dental hygienist and to revalidate your career in Florida.
• COA advisement: if you live outside Florida, the course content supports your Board application for the Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) credential, and our team can advise you through the process.
• Course certification: a printed, stamped certificate from Dental Training For You for each level you complete, a valuable plus for your resume.

What you’ll get

• Enhanced career opportunities & salary: strengthen your professional profile, become a more competitive candidate for orthodontic-assistant positions and increase your earning potential with specialized orthodontic skills.
• Potential pathway to Orthodontic Assistant Certification (OAC): the knowledge gained can prepare you for the optional Board of Dental Assistants in Orthodontics (BDAO) certification, which is not mandatory to work as an orthodontic assistant in Florida but further enhances your resume and professional standing.

Course Curriculum

• Level 1: Orthodontic Assistant Training (online theory + 1 day in-person). Basic orthodontic concepts and terminology, U.S. health organizations and standards, orthodontic instruments, sterilization and infection control, patient admission and clinical history, orthodontic records (impressions and photographs), pre-treatment consultation, start and end-of-day protocols, separators, initial placement of brackets and bands, archwire bending and adjustment, and patient hygiene instructions.
• Level 2: Advanced Orthodontic Procedures (1 day in-person). Treatment-stage progress monitoring, cinch-wire adjustment, ligatures (types and placement), Koby ties for arch fixation, crimpable hooks and elastics, stainless-steel ties, the figure-8 technique, open and closed springs, eruption devices, buttons and interproximal strips, and elastic placement and removal.
• Level 3: Orthodontic Retainers & Appliances (1 day in-person). Bracket and band removal (debonding/debanding), retainer fabrication, adjustment and fixation, fabrication and placement of orthodontic appliances, advanced impression techniques, and a clear-aligner therapy overview.
• Level 4: Orthodontic Laboratory (2 days in-person). Fabrication and adjustment of Essix and Hawley retainers, and construction of fixed and removable appliances including Quadhelix, space maintainers, palatal expanders, transpalatal arch, Nance appliance, lingual arch, Bionator and fixed bite planes.
• Intensive option: Levels 1 to 3 over two consecutive days, with certification for each level completed.

Tuition & Materials

• Level 1 (Orthodontic Assistant Training): $550.
• Level 2 (Advanced Orthodontic Procedures): $550.
• Level 3 (Orthodontic Retainers & Appliances): $550.
• Level 4 (Orthodontic Laboratory, 2-day): $1,500.
• Payment in full per level. Practice materials (brackets, bands, models, instruments and tweezers) and electronic resources are included.