2025 Fall Orthodontic Assistant Training Course

For Dental Assistants & Hygienists

FALL SESSION: July 25-26, 2025

Presented by: Susan Coffey, RDA

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20 CE Credit hours

if attending all 2 days in their entirety.

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No prior orthodontic experience required.

Orthodontic Assistant Training Course

For Dental Assistants and Hygienists

The Orthodontic Assistant Training Course is ideal for the dental practice that encourages cross-training and utilization of the staff to its maximum potential. The objective is to empower students to completely assist their doctors in everyday orthodontic practice. This course was designed for dental assistants by an orthodontic assistant, Susan Coffey, RDA. These courses are intended for dental auxiliaries and hygienists who have little or no training in orthodontics and want to begin to advance their orthodontic assistant skills. The assistant course covers the Williams' material and technique. This provides your entire team with the opportunity to be trained in the same method.

Course Description:
This course for dental assistants and hygienists is a unique 2 ½ day course, which will elevate your staff’s orthodontic knowledge and includes Phase I (early treatment), Phase II (Class I & Class II), bracketing, wire placement, diagnostic records, mirror photography. Students do not need prior knowledge of orthodontic concepts.

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Course Objectives

  • Orthodontic Terminology & Instruments
  • Diagnostic Orthodontic Records & Mirror Photography
  • Importance of Cephalometric Landmarks
  • Banding & Bracketing Teeth & Placing Separators
  • Phase I – Early Treatment
  • Utility Arch Wire & Its Capabilities
  • Nitanium Palatal Expander (NPE)
  • Phase II & Understand the Straight Wire Series
  • The Difference Between Class I, II, & III
  • Closing and Opening Space
  • Opening Deep Bites
  • Finishing Cases & Elastics Strategies
  • Debonding & Retention – Lower Lingual Fixed Retainer

Course Content

This course has both hands-on exercises and lectures that will cover topics, including:

  • Orthodontic Terminology & Instruments
  • Diagnostic Orthodontic Records & Mirror Photography
  • Importance of Cephalometric Landmarks
  • Banding & Bracketing Teeth & Placing Separators
  • Phase I – Early Treatment
  • Utility Arch Wire & Its Capabilities
  • Nitanium Palatal Expander (NPE)
  • Phase II & Understand the Straight Wire Series
  • The Difference Between Class I, II, & III
  • Closing and Opening Space
  • Opening Deep Bites
  • Finishing Cases & Elastics Strategies
  • Debonding & Retention – Lower Lingual Fixed Retainer

A list of instruments students MUST purchase to perform the hands-on exercises will be provided upon registration confirmation. These instruments are standard orthodontic tools to be used in your clinical practice following the course.

Course Schedules

Course Dates

July 25-26, 2025

Schedule

Registration is at 7:30am Friday
Friday 8:00am-5:30pm
Friday 5:30pm-8:30pm
(Optional Case Review - Provided Dinner)
Saturday 8:00am-5:30pm

Location & Lodging

AOS Institute
1785 State Highway 26, Grapevine, TX 76051

FEEDBACK FROM

Class Alumni

"I’ve been in GP for 16 years, all 16 years I’ve had experience with ortho. I attended this class about 3-4 years ago and learned so much! This is my SECOND time to attend this class, and, again, I’ve learned something new! It’s nice to have a full understanding of ortho even before attending this training. You will ALWAYS learn something new! Susan is amazing and ensures you UNDERSTAND what’s happening and WHY. And that’s huge for your overall knowledge of ortho and the successful outcome of your patients. Completely recommend this course for any and all experienced or non-experienced assistant!"

KELLY STRAND

SIOUX FALLS, SD

"This is my second time taking this course, and I enjoyed it just as much, if not more! I feel as though I was able to retain more information this time now that we’ve begun some ortho cases in our office. Love listening and learning from Susan; she is fantastic! Keep up the good work!"

Jayme L. Benjamin

Holton, ks

"As a dental assistant who is brand new to ortho, this intro class has given me confidence in starting ortho. Susan and the other lovely ladies in the back helped me so much. I don’t think I will forget any of it because I know the why behind what I’m doing, too. Everyone was extremely friendly, and I hope I get to come to another one of your classes!"

Kassidi Thompson

ADA, OK

"This is my second time taking this class. Susan is amazing at explaining things, and I have picked up a lot more the second time around. I would recommend this class to anyone interested in learning ortho. Thank you!"

Elizabeth Poell

Holton, KS

"It was a great experience being in this class. I learned a lot from Susan. She explains everything where it’s understandable, and any questions you had, Susan was very helpful. Learning how to change a Class II to a Class I with an MDA, the way she explains things made sense to me. She gave great examples in different ways you can go by. Overall, I loved the class."

YAMEL RIVERA

IRVING, TX

Meet the Instructor

Susan Coffey headshot

Susan Coffey, RDA

Susan is a Registered Dental Assistant who specializes in orthodontics. She began her career working in an orthodontic specialty practice, then moved to a general practice that provided comprehensive orthodontic therapy.

Currently, Susan continues to learn and find creative new ways to enhance orthodontics for the patients. Susan has extended her program to include on-site training for offices new to orthodontics that need a little extra incentive to get orthodontics started and enhance this new revenue source. Susan is blessed to be able to share her love and knowledge of orthodontics in continuing education courses with Dr. Brad Williams.

Being a very detail-oriented person who understands the importance of having empowered assistants, Susan will motivate her students to return to their offices with the ability and confidence to support their doctors in order to make orthodontics successful.

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Course Cost

$595 AOS member sponsored

Or $695 for non-member sponsored assistants. Refund policy is 50% two weeks prior to start of the course. 

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MEMBERSHIP

Founded in 1975, the American Orthodontic Society is America’s largest orthodontic educational association for general and pediatric dentists.

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AOS COURSE CONTACT

Emilie Hughes

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REGISTER BY PHONE

Call 972-234-4000 between the hours of 9:00am–5:00pm Monday through Friday CST and use your credit card to register. Phone registration will assure your place in the course.