Dental Assisting Certificate Program
Program Information
The Dental Assistant performs patient examinations, radiographs, and chairside dental procedures. They provide patient education by instructing patients in oral hygiene home care procedures.
Students will be a DA I (Dental Assistant I) once program is completed. Students can perform business management as well as clinical duties within their scope of practice.
The Dental Assisting Program is accepted by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) for the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification program.
Class offerings
Admission Requirements
Miminum of a high school diploma or GED certificate. Student must be 18 years of age or older. CPR will be scheduled after the student is admitted to the program.
Total Clock Hours: 304
Lecture/Online – 80 hours
Clinical – 224 hours
Dental Radiography Infection Control
Clinical procedures II
Dental Sciences
Dental Office Management
Dental Office Experience
Contact
Essential Functions
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF A DENTAL ASSISTANT
- Perform patient examination
- obtain and document patient medical/dental history
- take and document vital signs
- chart existing dental conditions
- Perform dental radiographs
- expose, process, mount and identify normal from abnormal findings on traditional radiographs
- expose, mount, and identify normal from abnormal findings on digital radiographs
- Perform chairside dental procedures
- prepare dental tray-set ups for all dental procedures
- assist dentist in all dental procedures using four-handed dentistry
- take impressions, pour and trim study models
- apply topical medication prescribed by dentist
- give post-operative instructions
- Perform patient education by instructing patients in oral hygiene home care procedures
- Perform the business management of a dental office
- coordinate all telephone transactions
- operate dental software
- balance daily, weekly and monthly receipts
- handling patient’s charts
- file dental insurance
- process treatment plans
- call dental labs
- schedule appointments with referring doctors
- collections and accounts receivables
- Adhere to OSHA, HIPAA and CDC Infection Control Guidelines
- Implement emergency procedures including CPR.
Program Cost/Supplies
Program Cost and Supples
| Items | Cost (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $180.00 |
| Supply fee | $200.00 |
| CPR (pre-req) | $98.00 |
| Technology fee | $5.00 |
| Books | $205.00 |
| Shoes, Scrubs, BP kits, Digital Thermometer, Red/Blue Pencil, Name Tag, Safety Glasses | $400.00 |
| Kilgore study model | $230.00 |
| Student Insurance fee | $1.25 |
| Malpractice and Accidental Insurance | $18.00 |
| SIMTICS | $88.00 |
| DANB (National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) Pathway | Anatomy, Morphology & Physiology (AMP) Exam, $240.00 Infection Control (ICE) Exam, $270.00 Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam, $270.00 All three exams taken at the same time, $400.00 (included in total below) |
| Physical Exam/Immunization Records | Varies |
| SIMTICS | $125.00 |
| Total Cost (Estimated) | 1,862.25 |
Amount due at registration: $964.25 (Includes Tuition, Supply fee, Technology fee, Books, Kilgore study model, SIMTICS, Malpractice and accidental insurance, Student insurance fee. Will receive items at the beginning of the Term 1).
Items to be purchased prior to the beginning of the program: Shoes, Scrubs, Blood Pressure Kits (manual BP cuff with stethoscope), Digital Oral Thermometer, Name tag, Safety glasses, and Physical Exam/Immunization Records. Approximately $440 plus the cost of the physical examination/immunization records. CPR will be pain in-person the last week of Term 1.
DANB NELDA Examinations $400 (for all three exams) OR $780 (if taken separately).
All costs are subject to change.
Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions
Dental Morphology and Anatomy: Emphasizes the development, eruption, and individual characteristics of each tooth and surrounding structures, and provides a basic study of human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology as related to dental science and the practice of dental assisting.
Infection Control: Introduces the infection and hazard control procedures necessary for the safe practice of dentistry.
Dental Radiography: Provides the fundamental background and theory of safe, effective use of x-radiation in dentistry. Course encompasses the history of x-rays, production and uses of radiation, radiographic film, exposure factors, interpretation of radiographs, and radiation hygiene.
Clinical Procedures I: Includes preparation to assist a dentist efficiently in four-handed dentistry. Emphasizes the names and functions of all dental instruments, the principles involved in their use, and the assistants’ role in dental instrumentation.
Dental Sciences: Presents a basic study of oral pathology, pharmacology, nutrition, and common emergencies as related to the role of the dental assistant.
Dental Office Management: Provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office.
Clinical Procedures II: Introduces the instruments and chairside procedures of the dental specialties and dental office emergencies.
Dental Clinical Experience: Consists of practice in the dental office or clinic, with rotation of assignments to encompass experiences in office management and clinical experience in all areas of dentistry.
Program Schedule/Classes
PROGRAM Schedule and Classes
FIRST 8 WEEKS (Term 1)
| Course | Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | 3300 | Dental Morphology and Anatomy |
1.5 hours/week (Online) | 0 |
| DEN | 3300 | Clinical Procedures I |
1 hour/week (Online) | 6 hours/week Tue/Wed, 5:30pm-8:30pm |
| DEN | 3300 | Infection Control | 1.5 hours/week (Online) | 0 |
SECOND 8 WEEKS (Term 2)
(CPR class taken during this term)
| Course | Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | 3300 | Clinical Procedures II |
1 hour/week (Online) |
6 hours/week (first four weeks) Tue/Wed, 5:30pm-8:30pm |
| DEN | 3300 | Dental Radiography | 1 hour/week (Online) | 6 hours/week (last four weeks) Tue/Wed, 5:30pm-8:30pm |
| DEN | 3300 | Dental Sciences | 1.5 hours/week (Online) | 0 |
| DEN | 3300 | Dental Office Management | 1.5 hours/week (Online) | 0 |
THIRD 8 WEEKS (Term 3)
| Course | Section | Title | Class/Lecture | Lab/Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | 3300 | Dental Clinical Experience |
2 hours/week (Online) | 16 hours/week (Dental Offices) |
Contact information
Administrative Assistant
Health and Public Services Innovation Center
Email:
Angie Rice
Phone: 828-327-7000
x4319
Office Number: EC 1201
Central Sterile Processing
Certified Nurse Assistant: CNA1, CNA2, & Refresher
Community Dental Healthcare Coordinator
Community Health Worker
Computed Tomography
Dental Anesthesia
Dental Assisting
EKG-Cardiology Technician
Mammography
Medical Assisting
Medical Coding Outpatient:Basic and Advanced
Medical Office Assistant
Medical Terminology
Medication Aide
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomy
Registration
Course Schedules