Program Description

Learn to perform patient care, front office and laboratory duties. Study infection control, dental materials, dental charting and chairside functions. The class meets six hours per day for classroom and laboratory instruction The program includes eight weeks of clinical training (Monday through Thursday) at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Students will meet in the classroom on Fridays. Clinical practice begins in February and runs through April. Students are then placed in private practices for four weeks prior to completion of the program.

Dental Assisting prepares students for a career as a dental assistant.

Program Courses

HCC 1000 Master Student Workshop
HCC 1040 Professional Development
DEN 1000 Introduction to Dental Assisting
DEN 1010 Head and Neck Anatomy
DEN 1020 Embryology, Histology and Tooth Morphology
DEN 1040 Psychology and Communication
DEN 1050 Oral Health and Nutrition
DEN 1060 Principles of Microbiology
DEN 1070 Infection Control and Hazard Communication
DEN 1080 Preclinical Dental Assisting
DEN 1090 Anatomy and Physiology for Dental Assisting
DEN 1100 Emergency Management
DEN 1110 Clinical Dental Assisting
DEN 1120 Dental Materials
DEN 1130 Dental Radiography
DEN 1140 Advanced Chairside Functions
DEN 1150 Ethical and Legal Aspects of Dentistry
DEN 1160 Dental Specialties
DEN 1170 Dental Assisting Clinical Practicum
DEN 1180 Practice Management for the Dental Team
DEN 1200 Dental Assisting Clinical Practicum II

 

Salary Range
Entry Level $9.00/hour or $1,200/month
With Experience $12.00 - $15.00/hour

Career Opportunities

Chairside assistant

Chairside assistant in dental specialties

Business assistant

Dental sales representative

Helpful Attributes and Abilities

Reading and math skills at the 10th grade level or above

The ability to get along with others

The ability to stand for long periods of time

Mental alertness

Flexibility

Good eye-hand coordination

Manual/finger dexterity

Dependability

The ability to think quickly

 

Program Length
1,150 hrs.

Schedule
10 months, full-time scheduling only

Who Can Enroll

Adults

Location

Springlake Campus
Health Careers Center
1720 Springlake Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Prerequisites

High school diploma or GED

18 years of age

CPR for Health Care Providers (American Heart Association course)

Financial Aid

Available for those who qualify

Student Organization

HOSA-Health Occupations Students of America

 

Certifications Available
Certified Dental Assistant
Dental Radiography by OK Board of Dentistry
Coronal Polishing & Fluoride Application by OK Board of Dentistry

Program Accreditations

American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
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 Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-2678

Metro Tech Accreditations

Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education (OBCTE)
1500 West Seventh Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074, phone (405) 377-2000,
1-800-522-5810, fax (405) 743-6809

North Central Association-Commission on Accreditation & School Improvement (NCA-CASI)
State Department of Education/NCA,
2500 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599, phone (866) 249-9410,
fax (405) 521-6205, Judy_Jolley@mail.sde.state.ok.us