Dental Assisting - Spokane Community College

Dental Assisting from Spokane Community College is a Campus Associate Dentistry degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. Program Description A one-year program designed to prepare the student for employment as a chairside assistant to the dentist. Chairside area: record medical and dental history; prepare treatment room; prepare patient for treatment; chart patient information; assist the dentist in general and specialty treatment of patient; sterilize and disinfect dental instruments; expose, process and mount radiographs; teach brushing and flossing; prepare various dental materials; perform expanded functions that are legal in the state of Washington; and order and maintain dental supplies. Reception area: appoint patients for treatments, maintain a patient recall system, file and maintain patient and office records, complete patient insurance forms and make financial arrangements with patients. This program is accredited by the American Dental Association. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board exam. High school diploma or GED certificate required Appropriate scores in ASSET or COMPASS required Computer skills recommended Active e-mail account recommended Each required course for graduation must be completed with a 2.0 grade or better before proceeding to the next quarter. All electives must be numbered 100 or above. Students may repeat a dental assisting course once, but it must be repeated within two years. Program Goals Perform basic chairside assisting techniques in general and specialty practices. Identify and utilize instruments, equipment, medications, and dental operatory maintaining the asepsis chain. Expose, process, and mount dental radiographs. Comprehend dental terminology, record patient medical and dental history, and chart pertinent patient information. Gain understanding of dental materials, prepare and utilize appropriately. Identify and apply the concepts of dental ethics in relationships to the patient, dentist, and other auxiliaries of the dental team. 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 assisting expanded functions allowed in the state of Washington. Career Opportunities Although the majority of dental assistants currently serve the profession in private offices, there are also positions in the rapidly growing group practices and in federal agencies, including clinics and hospitals of the Veterans Administration and the US Public Health Service. Dental schools also employ qualified and experienced dental assistants to work with dental students. Both full-time and part-time employment opportunities for dental assistants are excellent. View more details on Spokane Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Dentistry courses.