Dental Assisting Technology

The Dental Assisting Technology program trains students to become dental assisting professionals, involved citizens, and to be an asset to and compliment the dental healthcare team. The program emphasizes skills such as patient communication, critical thinking, clinical charting, and job readiness including practice interviewing and preparing a dental assisting resume. A unique feature of this program is an on-site dental clinic in which students gain experience working with dentists and patients.

SKC Dental Assisting Program Goals:

Recruit, retain, and graduate Native American students
Prepare students to become Certified Dental Assistants
Educate students who are prepared to address dental health concerns in Native American communities
Prepare graduates to be an asset to and compliment the dental health team.
Encourage students and graduates to be involved citizens within the dental communities in which they live

Degrees offered:

Certificate of Completion. Upon completion of the certificate a student is NOT a Certified Dental Assistant, but is eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
Dental Assisting Endorsement may be offered to students who successfully complete 23 credits of training and meet the requirements as an entry-level dental assistant as defined by the US Department of Labor. This does NOT qualify a student to take the Dental Assisting National Board Exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).

Functions of a Dental Assistant

Job Duties and functions of a dental assistant include but are not limited to :

maintaining infection control procedures
anticipating the dentist needs
exposing dental radiographs
setting up/tear down treatment areas
assisting in procedures
perform laboratory procedures
taking impressions and fabricating temporary restorations
providing patient communication and education

Dental Assisting Gainful Employment Info

Program Application

Learning Outcomes Assessment Summary Admission Requirements Other Requirements Employment Data

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the dental assisting program will become proficient in all areas allowed and defined by the State of Montana Dental Practice Act.

Maintain proper infection and hazardous control protocol in the dental healthcare setting
Perform four-handed dental assisting duties in a safe and ethical manner
Assist with intra and extraoral examinations, identify and apply concepts of dental terminology, and accurately record patient data
Identify and apply the concepts of dental ethics and professional communication in relation to the dental team and patients
Have the knowledge to schedule patients for various treatments, maintain a recall system, order and maintain supplies, complete patient insurance forms, make financial arrangements, and utilize basic dental software
Perform dental laboratory procedures.
Expose, develop, mount and evaluate radiographs including conventional, digital, and panoramic radiographic images while using proper safety precautions
Become advocates and promote healthy lifestyles to reduce health disparities in oral health within Native American communities

The dental assisting technology program prepares students for entry-level work in the dental profession. Students who graduate from this program may gain employment as general chairside dental assistants, dental hygiene assistants, or as dental assistants in specialty offices. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination to become a Certified Dental Assistant.

Assessment Summary

The Department uses a direct method of assessment through testing and through both clinical and laboratory competencies. Competencies include preparation of professional resumes and mock interviews. The department utilizes graduate surveys, student course evaluations, and dentist evaluations of students during their 300-hour externship training as indirect evaluation methods. Most surveys indicate a high rate of satisfaction with both the program and with student performance in clinical procedures.

Faculty has analyzed the pass, fail, and withdraw data along with surveys to determine our success in preparing students for the profession. Over the past year we have recognized that entry level students may need more one on one instruction and so have reorganized the clinical experience to insure that this will happen. More team teaching will begin this fall quarter and will be implemented in two of the entry level courses so students have a variety of faculty experiences, and faculty continue to be cognizant of the information that is continually being updated in the curriculum.

Admission Requirements

Other Requirements

Current CPR certification (may be taken during the first quarter of study)
Spring quarter will be extended to accommodate completion of all clinical externship (DATD 140) hours.
Perspective students should not have severe mobility or visual impairments and must be able to lift at least 30 pounds. Note: Individuals with concerns in this area should contact the program directors upon application.
Students must demonstrate emotional and mental maturity/health for work in a clinical setting.
Some externship or employment sites may require a federal background check and drug test prior to hire. Note: Individuals with a history of criminal convictions (whether felony or misdemeanor) and with concerns in this area should contact the program directors.
Graduates who apply to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam are required to answer background information questions. Individual cases are reviewed by DANB.

Employment Data

Accreditation

The program in dental assisting 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. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Policies and procedures have been developed related to bloodborne and infectious disease. These policies, which may be obtained from the department, are available to applicants for admission and patients.

Contact the Dental Assisting Technology Department for More Information.

Dental Assisting Technology Department Directory

Contact a specific faculty or staff member here.

Dental Assisting Tech Directory