Dental Assisting

dental.chemeketa.edu

The Dental Assisting program offers technical training to persons who want to work in dental offices and clinics. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678. The telephone number is 312.440.2500. The internet address is www.ada.org.

The program includes instruction in assisting dentists in private offices or dental health clinics plus clinical and field trip experiences. Typical duties of dental assistants include preparing patients for treatment, mixing dental materials, taking impressions, sterilization and infection control, exposing and developing radiographs, assisting with clinical procedures, expanded functions, and inventory control. Laboratory duties include pouring study models of teeth and fabrication of custom trays, temporary crowns, and small appliances. As office manager, a dental assistant acts as a receptionist, schedules appointments, keeps accounts and records, prepares statements and insurance billings, and is responsible for the general appearance of an office.

Program outcomes

Students completing the Certificate will:

• Perform basic and expanded chairside functions to facilitate the completion of restorative and advanced operative procedures.
• Manipulate dental materials to support chairside and laboratory procedures.
• Perform basic office procedures necessary to assist in managing a dental practice.
• Demonstrate proficiency in exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs.
• Practice professional behaviors as applied to the workplace environment.
• Manage asepsis, infection control, and hazard control protocol to promote a safe work environment.

Getting started

This program has special admission requirements and enrollment limits. The first step to entering this program is to take part in an assessment process which includes taking the college's free placement test and meeting with Counseling and Career Services staff. You may need to complete pre-program courses. Then, your advisor will help you develop an individualized program of study, which may include one or more of the following:

If you have questions about the requirements, call Counseling and Career Services at 503.399.5120 or 503.399.5058. Failure to be assessed may delay your entry into program classes.

For admission to the program, an application is required. This is a separate step from the testing and assessment steps. Applications are available in Counseling and Career Services, Admissions, and program offices.

To enroll, you must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Students are required to submit a copy of their current CPR card and a completed physical exam form prior to fall registration. Successful completion of the Dental Assisting program requires that you earn a grade of C or better in all courses. As a graduate you are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board examinations, including infection control, general chairside, and radiation health and safety.

Dental Assisting
^{Certificate of Completion}

You may earn a Certificate of Completion by successfully completing the 47 required credit hours with a grade of C or better in all courses:

Chemeketa Community College Catalog 2007-2008

Updated October 2006 by the College Advancement Department.