Allied Health
Dental Assistant Program
Overview
The educationally qualified dental assistant possesses skills and knowledge
utilized in a number of areas in the dental office. The dental assistant
functions as a chair side assistant working directly with the dentist,
performing radiology techniques and expanded functions, rubber dam placement,
and numerous laboratory procedures. The dental assistant also has the ability
to manage the business office.
Program Description
This one-year program offers a wide variety of training in all aspects of the dental
assisting profession. Students will be able to:
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Perform basic chair side assisting techniques in general and specialty
practices.
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Identify and utilize instruments, equipment, medications, and dental operatory
maintaining the asepsis chain.
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Expose, process, and mount dental radiographs.
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Comprehend dental terminology, record patient medical and dental history, and
chart pertinent patient information.
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Gain understanding of dental materials, prepare and utilize appropriately.
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identify and apply the concepts of dental ethics in relationships to the
patient, dentist, and other auxiliaries of he dental team.
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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.
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Perform dental assisting expanded functions allowed in the state of Washington.
Students have internships in several area dental offices for hands on training
to apply the knowledge and clinical skills. Hours will be spent in both general
dental offices and specialty practices.
Upon graduation, the dental assisting student is eligible to take the nationally
recognized Dental Association National Board Examination to become an Certified
Dental Assistant.
SCC's Dental Assisting program "is accredited by the Commission on Dental
Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body of the American Dental
Association recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the
United States Department of Education."
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 U.S. 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.
"The SCC dental assisting program prepared me well. My job is challenging and
interesting—and I enjoy the patients. There's something different every day."
Michelle Bowman
SCC Dental Assisting graduate
Dental assistant, Lincoln Heights Dental Center
Persons with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, accommodations for students with disabilities will be considered at the student's request. The student will be required
to register with the Disability Support Services office and provide documentation of disability. Once the student is qualified by
the DSS Manager as having a disability, requested accommodations will be considered. Accommodations for the classroom, laboratory,
or clinical setting will be considered according to reasonableness. Accommodations that compromise patient care, or that
fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, are not considered to be reasonable. A student denied accommodation may
request an individualized determination to assure that the denial is not a result of disability discrimination by contacting the
Manager of Disability Support Services and Testing at 533-7498. Procedures for appeal are outlined in the SCC Center for
Students with Disabilities Student Handbook. Other than accommodation issues, procedures for student grievances including
academic dismissal are outlined in the following SCC website:
www.scc.spokane.edu/?concerns.
For additional information, please contact Disability Support Services.