Program’s Mission Statement

The Dental Assisting program is here to help students gain new knowledge and acquire professional skills in order to attain a meaningful position in a highly regarded field.

By creating an environment in which students are stimulated to learn, grow personally, and to develop decision making and problem solving skills this program will meet the demands of the profession and community. 

Program Content

The course content includes, but is not limited to:

¹    Dental office and patient management

¹    Basic dental laboratory procedures

¹    Dental and general anatomy

¹    Dental terminology

¹    Nutrition

¹    Dental instruments and equipment

¹    Microbiology

¹    Dental pharmacology and anesthesia

¹    Chairside assisting and expanded functions

¹    Dental office emergencies/CPR

¹    Dental radiography

¹    Maintenance and asepsis of dental operator and instrumentation

¹    Dental specialty procedures

¹    Employability skills

¹    Leadership and human relations skills

¹    Ethics and jurisprudence

¹    Dental materials and preventive dentistry

This program incorporates practical experience in dental clinics and offices.

Entrance Requirements

¹    Occupational Interest

¹    Complete physical exam  vaccination update

¹    Transportation to clinics and offices

Length of Program

The entire program is 1080 hours, but students can earn a certificate at the completion of the following OCP’s:

OCP A (Basic Healthcare Worker Core) 90 hour

OCP B (Dental Assistant) 990 hour

Minimum basic-skills grade levels required for awarding a Full Program Completion Certificate  are 10^th grade in Math, Reading, and Language on the TABE Test

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities are available as dental assistants in private dental offices, dental schools, or hospitals.  The program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission of Dental Accreditation and the Florida Board of Dentistry.  Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Examination of Dental Assistants.

Salary

Dental assistants; salaries range from $22,000 to $42,000 annually, and there is a constant demand for dental assistants. Dental assistants held about 247,000 jobs in 2003.