The Dental Assisting program prepares students to function effectively as an integral member of the dental health team and to perform chairside assisting and related office and laboratory procedures.

The main areas of focus are …

• Biomedical Sciences
• Oral health and prevention of dental disease
• Infection control in dentistry
• Occupational health and safety
• Patient information and assessment
• Foundations of clinical dentistry
• Dental radiography
• Dental materials
• Assisting in comprehensive dental care
• Dental administration and communication

For printable PDF version of this information, and additional program details including prerequisites, schedule, and program length, click here.

Dental assisting offers variety, job satisfaction, opportunity for service, and financial reward. An assistant may choose to work as a chairside assistant or as an office manager or business assistant. Chairside dental assistants assume the responsibilities of obtaining the patient record, preparing the treatment areas, and assisting in procedures. An assistant may take impressions for study models, prepare instrument trays and anesthesia, expose, process, and mount dental radiographs, perform sterilization duties, and instruct patients on postoperative care. The dental assistant who chooses to work as a business assistant may act as receptionist, appointment secretary, or billing clerk. An assistant who chooses this path will be familiar with treatment procedures, time management, dental terminology, supply inventory and control, and dental software.

Career and educational path:After completion of this program students may enter the workforce as a dental assistant or continue their education and training for a degree in dental hygiene or dentistry.