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Are you the type of person that likes fast-paced, hands-on experience with the opportunity to help the public?鈥疶he Dental Assisting Program at 91茄子 is just what you鈥檙e looking for!鈥痀our hands-on experience begins as soon as the first week of class when you鈥檒l be working with other students in the dental clinic at 91茄子.鈥�
91茄子鈥檚 small class size combined with a tight-knit dental community allows for one-on-one interaction with the faculty as the students work their way through the program. Before the student graduates, they will gain hands-on experience as a chairside assistant in area dental schools and private dental offices.鈥疓raduates have the opportunity to work in private dental practices, specialty dental practices, dental colleges, dental product sales, insurance claims departments, and public health institutions and clinics, and dental laboratories.
The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. This accreditation ensures that the Dental Assisting program is up to date on the latest curriculum and techniques in the dental industry. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago 60611, or visit the website at www.ada.org/coda.
To learn more about the program or see what we鈥檝e been up to, visit our program .
Job Outlook
1,122 Jobs (2020)
+8.6% Change from 2020-2025
Data is from the Omaha Metropolitans Area, and the seven counties in Southwest Iowa that 91茄子 serves
What will you do
The Dental Assistant program is designed to place students into the workforce upon completion of the ten-month diploma. Dental Assistants aid dentists by performing support duties for the treatment of patients during dental procedures. Duties range from assisting the dentist with procedures to educating patients to preparing and sterilizing dental instruments and performing administrative work. Most dental assistants work in private dental offices, although job opportunities for dental assistants also exist in dental schools, private and government hospitals, state and local public health departments, and corporate clinics. The employment opportunities for dental assistants are ever increasing with the need for dental care.
Wages
- Entry: $16.53
- Average: $21.17
- Experienced: $23.46
Wage data was obtained from OEWS (occupational employment and wage statistics) through Iowa Workforce Development.
Program PrerequisitesGeneral Education Courses that must be completed prior to first semester of Dental Assistant Diploma:聽 | ||||
| ENG 105聽-聽Composition I OR | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| ENG 110聽-聽Writing For The Workplace | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| HSC 128聽-聽Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health Programs | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 6.0 Credits | ||||
First Semester | ||||
| DEA 312聽-聽Dental Radiography I | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 403聽-聽Dental Materials | 3.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 502聽-聽Dental Assisting Principles | 4.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 253聽-聽Dental Science I | 4.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 14.0 Credits | ||||
Second Semester | ||||
| DEA 321聽-聽Dental Radiography II | 2.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 602聽-聽Dental Specialties | 4.5 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 706聽-聽Procedures for the Dental Office | 2.5 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 263聽-聽Dental Science II | 2.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 582聽-聽Dental Assisting Experience I | 2.0 Credit(s) | |||
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Semester Total: 16.0 Credits | ||||
Summer | ||||
| DEA 585聽-聽Dental Assisting Experience II | 5.0 Credit(s) | |||
| DEA 933聽-聽Internship Seminar | 1.0 Credit(s) | |||
Semester Total: 6.0 Credits | ||||
Total Semester Hours Required: 42.0 | ||||
Notes:Courses with DEA prefix must be聽taken in the sequence listed above. Students must earn a 鈥淐鈥� or higher in all Dental Assisting courses in order to graduate. | ||||
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Additional Information
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Program Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the program students will:
- Demonstrate the ability to perform select office and dental procedures.
- Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior.
- Demonstrate the ability to accurately capture diagnostic radiographic images.
- Demonstrate communication of dental based principles to patients for practical use.
Program Disclaimers
- Salary information from EMSI Analyst Database