Overview

 

The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing healthcare professions – Dental Assisting. With the national increase in healthcare-related services, and the national shortage of healthcare professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the healthcare technician field. To meet our nation’s growing medical demands, recent studies indicate that over 400,000 assistants will be employed by 2028.

The program prepares students for entry-level positions as a chair-side dental assistant. This course covers the history of dentistry, introduction to the dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, introduction to oral anatomy, dental operatory, introduction to tooth structure (primary and permanent teeth), the oral cavity; and other areas. The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting focusing on the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • The dental assisting profession and the history of Dental anatomy and physiology
  • Tooth charting, tooth surfaces, and classification of restorations on a tooth
  • Parts of the jaw, areas of the mouth, oral health and preventions of dental disease
  • Infection control in dentistry and occupational health and safety
  • Patient information and assessment
  • Foundation of clinical dentistry
  • Dental radiology
  • Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture, and full denture
  • Dental equipment, accessories and the treatment room, hand pieces & accessories
  • Dental cements and impression materials; Assisting in comprehensive dental care
  • Coding of radiology services and the use of ICD-9-CM codes
  • Dental administration and communication skills

Certifications

 

There are several National Certification exams that are available to students who successfully complete this program:

1. Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) exam, which consists of 3 components:

  • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam
  • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Infection Control (ICE) exam
  • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP) exam

2. CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

  • CPR certification voucher will be provided to students for CPR class by a DANB accepted provider.

Note: Students meet the NELDA exam eligibility requirements via Pathway I:

1. Graduation from a dental assisting program located within a post-secondary institution that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, AND
2. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

Note: Inclusion of National Certification exam vouchers vary from school and payment / finance method. To check if they are included, you may message any of our advisors through any of our available channels here

 

 

 

FAQs

Request Information

Video Lesson Presentations

Mobile-Ready

eBooks & Supplemental Materials

Mentor Support

Certificate of Completion

Clinical Externship Opportunity*

Request Information