Dental Assisting Diploma

DA12

Availability: Marietta Campus

Please see a Health Sciences Advisor for more information about the availability of this program.  This program is pending SACSCOC and PELL eligibility approval.

Program Purpose: The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in today’s dental offices.  The Dental Assisting Program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention and advancement.  Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in the area of Dental Assisting. Graduates of the program receive a Dental Assisting Diploma.

Program Length: A full-time student who has successfully completed all pre-requisite courses with a C or better and who has been admitted into the Dental Assisting program can complete the Dental Assisting Diploma in three semesters.

Admission Requirements: Students must meet all admission requirements of the college. Students who intend to apply for the Dental Assisting program must enroll in the college’s Health Care Assistant Certificate program to complete diploma level pre-requisite courses.

Admission into the Dental Assisting program is competitive, and the program does not maintain a waiting list. Please consult the Dental Assisting web page on the college’s website for specific program admission information.

Diploma Requirements

Basic Skills (General Core) Courses - Area I

Language Arts/Communication

ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I

3

Basic Skills (General Core) Courses - Area II

Social/Behavioral Sciences

PSYC 1010Basic Psychology

3

Basic Skills (General Core) Courses - Area III

Natural Sciences/Mathematics

MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics

3

Occupational Courses

ALHS 1011Structure and Function of the Human Body

5

ALHS 1040Introduction to Health Care

3

MAST 1060Medical Office Procedures

4

or

COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3

Dental Assisting Courses

Students must achieve a grade of C or better and complete all competencies successfully in Dental Assisting Courses in order to pass the course.

DENA 1030Preventive Dentistry

2

DENA 1050Microbiology and Infection Control

3

DENA 1070Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

2

DENA 1080Dental Anatomy

5

DENA 1090Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

1

DENA 1340Dental Assisting I: General Chairside

6

DENA 1350Dental Assisting II: Dental Specialties and EFDA Skills

7

DENA 1390Dental Radiology

4

DENA 1400Dental Practice Management

2

DENA 1460Dental Practicum I

1

DENA 1470Dental Practicum II

1

DENA 1480Dental Practicum III

5

Total Credit Hours: 59-60