Dental Assisting
Dental Assisting (DA)
Class Schedules & Enrollment Form
Click on the tab below to see the course schedule and begin the enrollment process!
Program Overview:
The Dental Assisting (DA) program is a 32-week course work setup with eight (8) modules of four (4) weeks each. The final component of the program consists of a 300-hour externship at dental offices in the communities. Externship must be completed in 8-10 weeks.
Class Schedule:
Monday – Thursday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
(Class dates that fall on holidays will be made up on a Friday of the same week)
Upcoming Start Dates for 2019:
January 6 – August 13
February 3 – September 10
March 2 – October 8
March 30 – October 29
April 27 – December 3
Program Details
The professional Dental Assistant (DA) works in various settings to assist the dentist in the treatment area with responsibilities that include but not limited to seating and preparing for patients; charting; instituting infection control procedures; mixing and passing dental materials; assisting the dentist during procedures; ensuring patient comfort; exposing and processing radiographs; pouring and trimming models, as well as performing other laboratory procedures; providing patient education; providing postoperative instructions to patients; overseeing inventory control and ordering dental supplies; ensuring compliance with regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Our DA program will provide students with the real-world didactic and clinical skills that are essential to working in modern dental offices. An applied learning approach to the DA curriculum is threaded throughout each module to help students further develop the tactile and critical thinking skills necessary to effectively support the dentist in any dental setting. Students will learn the leading skills of modern clinical dental assisting armed with chairside and expanded function dental assisting knowledge gained in the classroom and the dental laboratory.
Students will complete the course with the clinical, technical, and professional skills they need to be successful in any dental practice. Upon completion of the ten (10) month program which includes a 300-hour externship, students will have the professional, clinical knowledge and proficiency required of the dental assisting professional.
Our graduates will be eligible to take the Infection Control (ICE) and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) in preparation for the CDA national examination. The CDA is developed and administered by Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The cost of the program will include supplies, scrubs, lab jackets, and books. Call 913-708-8323 to speak with the Program Director for more details.
The curriculum will be an on-campus course for the duration of the program. Students will be grounded with solid understanding of the fundamentals of professional dental assisting and be ready for the workforce.
Professional Duties of a Dental Assistant
Professional Duties of a Dental Assistant
Dental assistants typically do the following under the direction of a Dentist:
- Ensure that patients are comfortable in the dental chair
- Prepare patients and the work area for dental treatment
- Prepare tray set ups for each procedure
- Sterilize dental instruments
- Pass instruments to dentists during procedures by using the 4-handed passing method
- Dry patients’ mouth using suction and other moisture control techniques
- Instruct patients in proper oral hygiene
- Exposing and processing radiographs
- Complete lab tasks
- Document records of dental treatments
- Office duties may include: answering phone, scheduling appointments, collections, and insurance filing
Assistants who perform lab tasks, such as taking impressions of a patient’s teeth, work under the direction of a dentist. They may prepare materials for dental impressions or to create temporary crowns. Dental assistants are allowed to perform the following expanded function procedures in some states:
- Coronal polishing
- Sealant application
- Fluoride application
- Topical anesthetic application
Coronal polishing, which means removing soft deposits such as plaque, gives teeth a cleaner appearance. In sealant application, a dental assistant places a thin, plastic substance in deep groves of the teeth that seals out food particles and acid-producing bacteria to keep teeth from developing cavities. Fluoride application, in which fluoride is put directly on the teeth, is another anticavity measure. Some dental assistants may be qualified to apply topical anesthetic to an area of a patient’s mouth, temporarily numbing the area to help prepare a patient for procedures.
Work Environment
Most dental assistants work in dental offices with full time opportunities.
Job Outlook
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 19 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The aging population and ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services.
