Oral Health Careers
There are a variety of career opportunities in oral health. Some jobs, like dentistry, dental hygiene and expanded function dental assistant, require specific training and a license to practice. General dental assistants require raining but are not licensed. Each member of the dental team works according to their own scope, but each plays a role in patient education, prevention, and treatment. For more information on different oral health careers, visit U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Office of Dental Health is excited to announce that dental hygienists are now eligible to receive loan repayment assistance through the health professionals loan repayment program (HPLRP). Delta Dental of Missouri provided funding to add dental hygienists to HPLRP. Go to Missouri HPLRP for more information. The current application period ends November 1, 2025.
Schools for Dental Careers
Dentistry
- Kansas City University (KCU) Dental School – Joplin
- University of Missouri - Kansas City
- AT Still University - Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health
Dental Hygiene
- University of Missouri - Kansas City
- Ozark Technical Community College in Springfield
- Saint Louis Community College - Forest Park
- State Fair Community College in Sedalia
- Missouri Southern State University - Joplin
- Concorde Career College - Kansas City
Dental Assistant
- Franklin Technology Center – Adult Education – Joplin
- State Technical College of Missouri - Linn
- Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley in Kansas City
- Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield
- Midwest Technical Institute in Springfield
- Midwest Institute - Earth City and Fenton
- Laurel Institute for Dental Assistants - Saint Peters
- Center for Advanced Dental Assisting - Wentzville, Raymore, Saint Louis
- Apex Dental Education - Springfield
Dental Assistant Programs in High Schools
Other Education Resources
- Missouri Area Health Education Centers Network
- Community of Accredited Online Schools