Dental Assisting Degree (AAS)

Program Description

Dental assistants play a key role in the dentist’s office, serving as a friendly face dedicated to making a patient feel comfortable, welcome, and safe. As a dental assistant, you’ll work with a variety of people and provide important preventative health care services. You’ll enjoy a flexible part-time or full-time schedule in an in-demand industry that can set the tone for a patient’s future approach to their health.

Dental Assisting educates students in all phases of dental assisting, including expanded functions and passing the National Board Exam for Certification. The program is designed to be completed in four quarters (Fall through the following summer) by full-time students. The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates may be hired as expanded function assistants, preventive assistants, business assistants, or traditional assistants. Employment opportunities are high and well distributed throughout the state. Dental assistants directly assist with all aspects of patient treatment and perform certain procedures independently. They also organize instruments, set up and oversee sterilization and disinfecting procedures, inventory control, ordering of supplies, polishing teeth, applying fluoride, placing sealants, providing homecare instructions, taking X-rays, and fabricating and placing temporary restorations.

Program Costs

In addition to tuition & fees, other costs (approximate and subject to change) are:

  • Hepatitis B vaccination                               $250
  • Tuberculosis clearance                              $100
  • Name tag                                                   $15
  • Printing                                                      $50
  • Basic Life Support (CPR) training              $80
  • Textbooks and supplies                             $300
  • National Board exam                                $524
  • Uniforms and shoes                                 $300

Uniform information will be provided during the mandatory orientation held before the start of program for those accepted into the program 

Earning the Degree

An Associate in Applied Science Degree will be awarded upon successful completion of a minimum of 90 credits in courses numbered 100 or above. All core and general education distribution requirements must be met, with any additional credits to be selected as electives. Courses coded DENT must be taken in succession. All DENT courses and general education requirements must be completed with a grade of “C” or better to continue in and complete the program.

Accreditation

The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda