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Dental Assistant Certificate
Course Information
The dental assistant is an important member of the dental team. Effective utilization of a well-trained dental assistant results in more effective dental service for a greater number of people with less time and productivity expended by the dentist. A well-trained Certified Dental Assistant is always in demand in the career market.

While the majority of assistants are employed in private dental practices, there are other fields of opportunity:
• School clinics Public health clinics
• Private hospitals Government hospitals
• Dental schools The Armed Services
• Dental sales Insurance Companies

As for duties, the main thrust is assisting the dentist at chairside in the transfer of instruments, the preparation of dental materials, and the sterilization of instruments and preparation of the treatment room. The Dental Assistant is also responsible for certain laboratory procedures.
Most important, the assistant is trained to expose and process x-rays which are used by the dentist in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Frequently the assistant is called upon to evaluate the patient's diet and its relationship to oral health, to instruct the patient in the importance of home care and to demonstrate proper brushing, flossing techniques and the use of other adjuncts as prescribed by the dentist.

The assistant's duties also include appointment making, recalls, billing and processing third party insurance forms, ordering supplies, and complying with OSHA regulations.
Freshman Year
Semester One
Credits
 Semester Two
Credits
English Composition I (ENGL101)*
3
 General Psychology (PSYC101)
3
Dental Office Management (DENT105)
3
 Dental Science II (DENT111)
3
Dental Materials I (DENT102)
3
 Dental Materials II (DENT113)
2
Dental Science I (DENT106)
5
 Dental Radiography II (DENT114)
3
Dental Radiography I (DENT103)
3
 Clinical Externship (DENT112)
6
Chairside Assisting (DENT107)
6
    
*If one tests out of English Composition I, then any Speech, Literature, Journalism, or Foreign Language course may be substituted.
This program awards a Board-Approved Certificate upon completion of 11 courses and 40 credits and a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Clinical placement for accepted students requires a Criminal Offender Record Information (C.O.R.I.) check be completed.
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