The Dental Assistant Training School of the Rio Grande Valley (DATS/Rio Grande Valley) provides a new and innovative course in dental assisting. We give you the best, most basic, foundational knowledge and skills necessary to start your new career with minimum time and expense. In addition, school hours are designed to allow you to be able to learn without interrupting your current job or daily responsibilities.

The school was founded by the late Dr. Juan D. Villarreal and courses were originally done within his successful practice at Harlingen Family Dentistry which he started in 1983.

Dr. Villarreal graduated from the Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and attended Medical Officer Training School at Fort Sam Houston. His practice at Harlingen Family Dentistry grew to encompass 12 other dentists and a staff of over 140 people.

The practice expanded with offices in Brownsville, Edinburg, McAllen, Weslaco, Raymondville and Austin.

Dr. Villarreal was appointed to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners by Governor Perry in 2001 and served on the Board until 2008. He acted as Secretary of the Board from 2005 to 2006 and was the Chair of the Enforcement Committee. He is a Past President of the following organizations: the Hispanic Dental Association, the Rio Grande Valley Dental Society, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District Trustees and the City of Harlingen Economic Development Board. He founded Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform. He was intimately involved with Dentists Who Care, a non-profit dental organization with the mission to improve and enhance the quality of life for low-income children in the Rio Grande Valley through access to oral health care.