Dental Assistant Externship in Michigan

Find DA externship opportunities across Michigan. Connect with 5,800+ dental practices, oral surgery centers, and specialty clinics to gain hands-on chairside experience.

5,800+

Dental Facilities

1,630+

Job Openings

$0

To Enroll

$850

To Complete

Self-Managed Externship: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact dental facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.

What is a Dental Assistant Externship?

A dental assistant externship provides hands-on clinical experience in real dental settings. You'll work alongside licensed dentists and dental hygienists, applying classroom knowledge to actual patient care situations.

Our externship is optional and flexible—you decide when and where to complete it. Many students find that externship experience significantly improves their job prospects, though it's not required to complete our program.

EHired's training prepares you for entry-level dental assistant positions. Professional certifications such as DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) are offered by independent credentialing organizations and are optional but can enhance your credentials when you're ready.

Skills You'll Practice

  • Chairside assisting during procedures
  • Instrument sterilization & infection control
  • Treatment room setup & breakdown
  • Patient scheduling & dental charting
  • Impression taking & suctioning
  • Patient communication & education

DA Externship Sites in Michigan

Explore dental facilities across Michigan that may accept externship students. Contact facilities directly to inquire about externship opportunities.

🚗 Detroit Metro (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb Counties)

Michigan's population center with Detroit Mercy Dental and diverse practices.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Detroit, Heartland Dental Troy, Midwest Dental Sterling Heights, Detroit Family Dental, Royal Oak Dental, Ann Arbor Dental Care, Dearborn Dental Group

🔬 Specialty Practices

Detroit Mercy Dental School Clinics, Detroit Oral Surgery, Michigan Orthodontics, Oakland Periodontics, Children's Hospital Michigan Dental, Motor City Endodontics

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Detroit Mercy Dental Clinics, Community Health Centers of Michigan Dental, Health Centers Detroit Medical Group Dental, Covenant Community Care Dental

💡 Tip: Detroit Metro has Detroit Mercy Dental School. Auto industry creates professional workforce. Ann Arbor has University of Michigan. Diverse opportunities across tri-county area.

🌲 Grand Rapids/West Michigan (Kent, Ottawa, Kalamazoo Counties)

Furniture city with growing healthcare sector.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Grand Rapids, Heartland Dental Holland, Midwest Dental Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids Family Dentistry, Holland Dental Care, Muskegon Dental Group, Battle Creek Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Grand Rapids Oral Surgery, West Michigan Orthodontics, Lakeshore Periodontics, Pediatric Dental Specialists Grand Rapids, Spectrum Health Dental

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Cherry Health Dental (multiple locations), Family Health Center Kalamazoo Dental, Hackley Community Care Dental, InterCare Community Health Dental

💡 Tip: West Michigan has strong healthcare sector. Furniture and food processing industries create workforce. Lake Michigan communities attract workers. Growing market.

🏛️ Lansing/Central Michigan (Ingham, Clinton Counties)

State capital with MSU and regional dental services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Lansing, Central Michigan Dental Group, East Lansing Dental, Jackson Family Dentistry, Owosso Dental Care, Charlotte Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Lansing Oral Surgery, Capital Area Orthodontics, MSU Dental Specialists, Pediatric Dentistry of Mid-Michigan

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Ingham Community Health Dental, Cristo Rey Community Center Dental, Sparrow Hospital Dental Clinic, MSU Clinical Center Dental

💡 Tip: Lansing is state capital with government workforce. Michigan State University creates young population. Auto industry presence. Moderate cost of living.

🌊 Northern Michigan/UP (Traverse City, Marquette)

Tourism and retirement communities with regional dental services.

🦷 General & Family Dentistry

Aspen Dental Traverse City, Northern Michigan Dental Group, Marquette Dental Care, Petoskey Family Dentistry, Sault Ste. Marie Dental, Alpena Dental

🔬 Specialty Practices

Traverse City Oral Surgery, Northern Michigan Orthodontics, UP Periodontics, Pediatric Dentistry of Northern Michigan

🏥 Dental Clinics & Community Health

Northern Michigan Hospital Dental, Munson Healthcare Dental, UP Health System Dental, Northwest Michigan Health Dental

💡 Tip: Northern Michigan has tourism and growing retiree population. Significant workforce shortages. Beautiful lifestyle attracts workers. UP has extreme shortages with incentives.

How to Arrange Your Externship

1

Research Facilities

Identify dental practices, specialty offices, and clinics in your area that interest you.

2

Contact Directly

Call or email office managers to inquire about externship opportunities and requirements.

3

Schedule & Complete

Arrange hours that work for both parties. Our externship is flexible—no minimum hours required.

4

Build Relationships

Many externships lead directly to job offers. Treat every day as an extended interview.

Michigan Dental Assistant Information

State Regulations

Michigan requires dental assistant registration for expanded duties. Basic chairside assisting does not require registration. Radiography certification required for taking X-rays. Two dental schools provide excellent training.

Michigan Dental Board

About Certifications

Professional certifications such as DANB CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) are offered by independent credentialing organizations. These certifications are optional but can enhance your credentials and earning potential.

EHired training prepares you for entry-level positions and helps build the knowledge foundation for pursuing optional certifications when you're ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find DA externship sites in Michigan?
Michigan has 5,800+ dental facilities. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Detroit Mercy Dental School offer excellent clinical experiences. Cherry Health operates community dental network. Contact facilities directly about externships.
Does Michigan require dental assistant registration?
Michigan requires registration for expanded dental assistant duties through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Basic chairside assisting does not require registration. Radiography certification required separately.
What's Michigan's dental assistant salary range?
Michigan DA salaries: Detroit Metro $30,000-$42,000, Grand Rapids $28,000-$38,000, Lansing $27,000-$36,000, Northern Michigan $26,000-$35,000. Excellent cost of living compared to coastal states.
Can Michigan residents access Ohio or Indiana dental jobs?
Yes—Southeast Michigan borders Ohio (Toledo). Southwest Michigan borders Indiana. Many workers commute across state lines. This expands job options from border areas.

Helpful Resources

Explore Nearby States

Looking for DA externship opportunities in neighboring states?

Start Your Dental Assistant Career Today

Free training. Flexible externship. Real career opportunities in Michigan.

$0 to enroll • $850 to complete • Self-paced online training

Explore All Healthcare Training Resources

Find specific resources by program, topic, and state

Popular: MA Training CA · PCT Jobs TX · DA Cert FL