Dental Assisting Technology Department
- Endorsement in Dental Assisting (21 credits)
- Certificate of Completion (C.C.) (52 credits)
The Dental Assisting Technology program at SKC is flexibly designed to meet the needs of individual students. Students may enter the program at the beginning of fall, winter, spring, or summer quarters. The DAT program trains students to become dental assisting professionals, to become involved citizens, and to be an asset to and compliment the dental healthcare team. A unique feature of this program is an on-site dental clinic in which students gain experience working with dentists and patients; students begin clinical functions such as performing infection control procedures as soon as the second week of school. The program stresses skills such as patient communication, critical thinking, clinical assisting, and job readiness including practice interviewing and preparing a dental assisting resume. In addition to on-site clinical training, 300 hours of clinical externships in private dental offices, IHS and tribal health clinics are integrated within the curriculum.
Although dental assistants may be trained on the job, employers prefer to hire a trained dental assistant. Every state has different requirements for dental assistants. State of Montana requires a dental assistant to be qualified in radiography. This can be obtained in two different ways:
- Graduate from a CODA accredited dental assisting program, such as ours.
- Take and pass the examination in Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) offered by Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
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). Background checks are required when applying for this exam.
- The Endorsement in Dental Assisting may be offered to students who successfully complete 21 credits of training and meets 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).
Accreditation
The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Education and by the United States Department of Labor.
Admission Requirements
- HS diploma or GED/HiSET
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Current CPR certification (may be taken first quarter)
- Documentation of health insurance coverage
- Dental Assisting Application
- SKC Application
Expenses
- Lab fees of $65 per lab credit
- Hepatitis B vaccine/immunizations
- 4 sets of short sleeved scrubs
- 1 white, long sleeved lab coat
- 2 OSHA approved clinical uniforms
- OSHA approved clinic shoes
- Textbooks $250
Other Requirements
- Background checks necessary for national exams
- Some externship or employment sites may require a background check and drug test prior to hire.
For more information, consult with the department staff or faculty.
Student 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. Upon completion of the program the student should be able to:
- Maintain proper infection and hazardous control protocol in dental healthcare setting
- Perform four-handed dental assisting duties in a safe and ethical manner
- Assist with intra and extra oral 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 relationship 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