The growing trend in dental care is for increased use of dental assistants, allowing dentists to provide more specialized patient care. The Certificate in Dental Assisting program at Charter College can help you prepare to enter this field. Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists performing a variety of patient care, office and laboratory duties. Responsibilities may include sterilizing and disinfecting instruments and equipment, preparing and laying out materials, taking dental x-rays and processing x-ray film.