Dental Assistant

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Overview

Outcomes

Dental Assistant Accreditation Site Visit

The Dental Assistant program is scheduled for an site visit from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation on September 17 & 18, 2009.

Students and patients of the program are invited to provide comments to the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation, or CODA, before the site visit. Please, check with Diana Sullivan via e-mail or phone, 651-423-8483, for details.

Major Description

This program prepares students for employment in dentistry. Students study ways to control and prevent dental disease. They also learn how to teach their patients preventive care. Trained to expose and process dental X-ray films, students also master a variety of chairside skills and expanded functions delegated by the State Board of Dentistry.

Work Environment

Dental assistants provide direct patient care working under the direction of a dentist. Potential employers include dental practices in both general and specialty offices that are clean, modern and well-lit. Work areas are near the dental chair to permit efficient assistance to the dentist.

Potential Job Titles

  • Certified Dental Assistant
  • Registered Dental Assistant
  • Expanded Duty Dental Assistant
  • Restorative Dental Assistant

Salary Data

  • Average Wage: $20.92/hour
  • Top Earners: $25.46/hour
    (Seven-county metro area—iseek.org)

Professional Organizations

At minimal cost, students can become student members of important professional organizations such as:

Academic Advisor

Dean

  • Sherralyn Cox
    Dean of Design and Health/Human Services

Instructors

Jaime Pieper 651-423-8543 jaime.pieper@dctc.edu BIO
Diana Sullivan 651-423-8483 diana.sullivan@dctc.edu BIO

Related Programs: