Dental Assisting

Objective 

The Dental Assistant’s role is critical to the delivery of quality dental health care. Advanced technologies and the increasing demand for dental services have resulted in dramatic growth in the industry. The objective of the dental assisting program is to provide quality career education that prepares students not only for seeking entry-level employment in the dental assisting field but also for life-long learning and personal and professional growth.

Description 

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain and update patients' dental records. Assistants make patients comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. The Dental Assisting curriculum provides a foundation in the health sciences and hands-on training in using the technology necessary to perform tasks typically performed by a Dental Assistant.

Externship 

An externship component is included in this program to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations in a dental setting. Students are required to complete the required externship hours and other related learning activities prior to graduation. Students are not paid for work performed at the externship site.

Credentialing Exams 

Graduates of this program are eligible for taking the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), and the Infection Control Examination (ICE) Examinations.

Career Opportunities 

Graduates of the Dental Assisting program are prepared to seek entry-level employment in the office of a licensed dentist, performing tasks such as assisting with procedures, managing/maintaining patient records, and completing other appropriate tasks assigned by the licensed Dentist.