About South Coast Dental Institute

Our Goal
The South Coast Dental Institute (SCDI) is a privately owned post-secondary institution which offers short term dental vocational training programs serving Orange County. We seek to train motivated people in the dental and orthodontic assisting profession in a fun and comfortable setting.

Our Philosophy
The philosophy of SCDI is centered around the belief that people can be trained in a relatively short period of time to enter, or enhance their career in the world of dental assisting. We believe that on-the-job experience, not classroom hours, is the best teacher. Our short program vision allows our students to get the practical knowledge and hands-on experience that is required to successfully land a job in a targeted dental office. Once employed, the assistant can "fine tune" their knowledge to complement their new employer's particular methods and practice operations. For our Dental Assistant students, you can be working and earning paychecks instead of languishing in an expensive 12 month, full-time RDA program with no income. Our 10 week program allows you to keep your current job and income until you graduate and begin your new profession.

It is our purpose to equip each student with the basic skills necessary to enter the workplace and immediately begin to gather experience. We also feel that our many years in the dental profession and highly trained faculty gives our school an advantage over others.

big smile!

Enrollment Process
It's easy to get started! Just call or e-mail our school administrator, who will meet with you personally to complete the enrollment and financial agreements. Or you may choose to attend an Open House where you can meet our staff, have your questions answered, and be able to register. Our Open House dates are posted on this website. We'd love to meet you!

Any person who has attained a high school diploma or a recognized equivalency certificate (GED) is eligible to attend the SCDI Dental Assisting Program. The Orthodontic Program is intended for current DA's or RDA's. All applicants must exhibit a proper willingness and enthusiasm to learn the skills required to effectively work in a dental office setting.

Admissions at SCDI are conducted throughout the year. Applicants are evaluated and accepted on a first come, first served basis. New class start dates are posted on each program's web page and SCDI literature.


Completion Requirements & Graduation
At the end of your program, a graduation certificate will be given to you if you have successfully completed the following requirements: Students must complete all study assignments, quizzes, exams and skill demonstrations as required by the prescribed curriculum. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative score of 70% correct and a have minimum attendance of 80% in order to satisfactorily complete the program. Academic achievement and attendance records will be maintained by this school for five years from the date of your program completion.

Attendance Policy
All students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance to remain in the program. Students who do not comply with this requirement will be administratively dropped. Refunds, per the refund policy, will be issued.

Drop Out Policy
Students are required to notify the school director, in writing, of their desire to withdraw (drop) from a program of study. Refunds will be issued per the terms of the published refund policy which appears in the Program Catalog and on the student's Enrollment Agreement.

Dress Code
For Dental Assisting and Orthodontic Assisting courses, students will be required to wear scrubs. Students enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program will be issued scrubs prior to the start of class. Students enrolled in the Orthodontic Assisting Program can obtain scrubs upon request, if desired.

Facilities and Equipment
Our instructional areas occupy over 1200 square feet of classroom, clinic, laboratory and office space. The facility is modern, comfortable and well lighted, thereby providing an excellent learning environment. We have a working OSHA program in place with accompanying MSDS sheets and other regulatory necessities. All in all, it is an ideal environment for students to maximize their time and experience.

Training Aids
SCDI instructors are supplied with teaching manuals, appropriate presentation materials, diagrams, typodonts and all dental equipment and supplies necessary for classroom, laboratory and clinical training.

Statement of Non-Discrimination
No person shall be excluded from participation, denied any benefits or subjected to any form of discrimination because of sex, age, creed, religion, national origin or physical handicap.

Financial Aid or Assistance
SCDI is proud to offer financing for those who meet specific credit requirements. We also accept Visa/MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, Personal Checks, Money Orders, and Cash. Please call 949-371-3724 for more information.

We also accept CareCredit.  This line-of-credit allows you to extend payments 24-60 months with no down payment.  You can find more information or apply at www.carecredit.com.  (The doctor's name is Jeffrey J.Staples and his phone number is 949-768-0211)  We can also assist you with this application at our office, if you wish.

Class Size
Class size will not exceed 11 students per instructor in any given class.

Placement Assistance
Upon graduation, job placement assistance is available to all students at no additional cost. Placement assistance includes:

  • Advice on resume preparation
  • Tips on interview techniques
  • Advice on how to identify employment opportunities
  • Interviews with prospective employers when available
SCDI will provide assistance and advice during the graduate's job search. However, SCDI does not guarantee employment.

Legal Status
South Coast Dental Institute is a subsidiary of Jeffrey J. Staples, D.D.S., Inc., a California corporation. Our office is located at 27001 La Paz Road, Suite 236, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.


  Ph: 949-371-3724 | Fx: 949-768-7531 | South Coast Dental Institute | 27001 La Paz Rd., Suite 236 | Mission Viejo | CA | 92691 | admissions@scdentalinstitute.com