Dental Assistant Diploma

Program Accreditation: American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, in compliance with the standards set forth by the ADA Council on Dental Education

Program Overview:

The Dental Assistant program is designed to equip students with technical knowledge, hands-on skills, clinical experience, and professional communication abilities needed to become effective members of the dental health care team. The program can be completed in one year as a full-time student or two years as a part-time student.

Dental assistants assist the dentist chairside, perform expanded functions, patient care and laboratory procedures. The program prepares students to work in both general and specialty dental practices.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Dental Assistant program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of dental terminology and the dental sciences.
• Collect systematically and record accurately record diagnostic and clinical data.
• Employ current principles of effective chairside assisting for general and dental specialty procedures and dental/medical emergencies.
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing expanded functions for Minnesota licensed dental assistants.
• Implement current principles and guidelines of dental infection control, aseptic techniques and hazards management.
• Prepare and manipulate chairside and dental laboratory materials and fabricate dental models, impression trays and appliances.
• Provide oral health instruction to dental patients and community groups.
• Perform patient reception and dental business office procedures effectively.
• Communicate effectively and establish positive working relationships with patients and members of the dental health care team.
• Function in a responsible, professional and ethical manner.

Career Opportunities:

Dental Assisting is a career that is in high demand and includes excellent work schedules, attractive compensation packages and pleasant work environments.

Additional Information:

For more information on program admission requirements, please see the department website at Dental Assistant admission information.

Clinical training takes place in the 18-chair dental clinic and 24-station dental simulation lab. The clinic features a sterilization area, radiography room, and a fully equipped dental laboratory. Patients receive preventive services in the clinic under the direct supervision and instruction of a licensed dentist. In the final semester, students expand their clinical experience through three assigned externships in a variety of dental offices across southeastern Minnesota.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Minnesota Jurisprudence Examination and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification Exam, qualifying them to become Licensed Dental Assistants in Minnesota as well as nationally certified dental assistants.

Notice of Minnesota Background Study Requirement Minnesota Statute 245C requires that students who have contact with individuals in licensed institutions complete an annual background study with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Individuals who do not pass the background study will not be allowed to participate in clinical activities. A list of disqualifying offenses is available at Minnesota Statute 245C.15. Students in the program will also be required to complete a national criminal background study. Information about completing both background studies will be available from program faculty.

DENTAL ASSISTANT DIPLOMA

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (47 CREDITS)

• DA 1220 – Dental Communications (3 cr)
• DA 1210 – Dental Science I (3 cr)
• DA 1215 – Dental Practice Management (2 cr)
• DA 1220 – Chairside Assisting I (6 cr)
• DA 1225 – Dental Infection Control (2 cr)
• DA 1230 – Preventive Dentistry (2 cr)
• DA 1250 – Dental Science II (3 cr)
• DA 1255 – Dental Materials (4 cr)
• DA 1260 – Chairside Assisting II (4 cr)
• DA 1265 – Expanded Functions (7 cr)*
• DA 1270 – Expanded Functions II (1 cr)*
• DA 1275 – Dental Radiology (3 cr)*
• DA 1280 – Dental Assisting Internship (7 cr)*

* Students enrolled in the Dental Assisting Program are required to maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification for Healthcare Providers, obtained through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

FULL-TIME

• Semester 1 – Fall (18 CREDITS): DA 1200, DA 1210, DA 1215, DA 1220, DA 1225, DA 1230
• Semester 2 – Spring (22 CREDITS): DA 1250, DA 1255, DA 1260, DA 1265, DA 1270, DA 1275
• Semester 3 – Summer (7 CREDITS): DA 1280

PART-TIME

• Semester 1 – Fall (8 CREDITS): DA 1200, DA 1210, DA 1215
• Semester 2 – Spring (7 CREDITS): DA 1250, DA 1255
• Semester 3 – Fall (10 CREDITS): DA 1220, DA 1225, DA 1230
• Semester 4 – Spring (15 CREDITS): DA 1260, DA 1265, DA 1270, DA 1275
• Semester 5 – Summer (7 CREDITS): DA 1280

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions