Dental Assistant

2019-20 Dental Assistant (PDF)

Certificate of Completion

Courses for this Certificate

About the Program

This four-term certificate program prepares students to meet the requirements to become dental assistants with expanded functions (EFDA). Successful completion of the program leads to eligibility to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) certified dental assisting (CDA) exam. The curriculum is based in general dentistry; students are trained in four-handed chair-side assisting techniques to work with gen¬eral dentists during all phases of patient examination and treatment.

Program students attend classes as part of a structured cohort that begins each year in summer term. Students should apply early as the required mandatory orientation is scheduled several months prior to the summer start. Note: Students may still be working on prerequisites to cohort acceptance classes when applying.

Working dental assistants with six months of current, continuous, chair-side employment may also enroll in classes without formal admittance into the program, and without joining a cohort. Working dental assistants may attend most classes, but preference will be given to cohort students. Working dental assistants can enhance their education and eligibility to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board's (DANB) certified dental assisting (CDA) exam by taking RCC dental classes.

If students intend to transfer to Oregon Tech’s bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Management after successfully passing the registry or licensure exam, transfer courses should be chosen from the list of electives where possible. See an advisor for more information or visit www.oit.edu/programs/klamath-falls/management/allied-health-management/overview.

Program Learning Outcomes

The curriculum in RCC courses is derived from a set of identified learning outcomes that are relevant to the discipline. Program learning outcomes for the Dental Assistant program are:

Demonstrate patient education and management skills:
Provide oral health instruction and counseling. Recommend home-care strategies. Recognize patient abilities to properly care for their teeth. Translate dental terminology to layman's terms. Advise patients on impact of diet on oral health. Identify normal and pathological abnormalities of the oral structures. Perform extra oral tissue examinations.

Demonstrate administrative office skills:
Accurately review health history forms with patients. Practice effective interpersonal and communication skills. Model professional conduct and appearance, and demonstrate professional behaviors consistent to the dental workplace. Identify and effectively manage time and resources.

Demonstrate occupational safety skills:
Apply current concepts of infection control and occupational safety. Engage and assist in the management of medical and dental emergencies and administer basic life support procedures, when indicated. Demonstrate proficiency in sterilizing instruments and disinfecting equipment.

Demonstrate general chair-side skills:
Assist in diagnostic and operative procedures. Perform clinical supportive functions during pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment phases. Demonstrate proper tray setups. Identify and differentiate between esthetic and restorative treatment procedures.

Demonstrate fluency and competency dealing with legal and ethical issues:
Practice exercising sound clinical judgment while performing duties within existing ethical and legal parameters of the clinical dental practice. Practice compliancy with OSHA, OR-OSHA, and HIPAA regulations.

Demonstrate radiographic proficiencies:
Demonstrate proper film placement for intra- and extra-oral films and expose, process, and mount radiographs of diagnostic quality. Effectively communicate radiographic safety techniques and concerns to patients and peers and acquire maximum diagnostic yield with minimal exposure to radiation.

Demonstrate dental and laboratory sciences skills:
Apply knowledge of basic dental sciences in professional setting, use correct dental terminology, take alginate impressions, and complete laboratory procedures, including pouring and trimming molds and study casts.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Placement Process to determine skill level and readiness in math, reading, and writing. As part of their training program, students must begin with the courses within their skill level as determined through the Placement Process. In addition, students may also be required to enroll in classes that would increase their employability and success.

This is a limited-entry program. Cohort students must meet certain minimum academic requirements (MTH20, RD90 and WR90, or WR91) before the program application due date. All listed program prerequisites must be satisfactorily completed before beginning the cohort. Visit https://go.roguecc.edu/department/dental-assistant for program application details.

Selection Process

All applications will be date stamped and reviewed in the order received. Applicants will be selected
by committee. The screening process includes a mandatory orientation and an interview. A criminal
background check and drug screening will be required for students once they are accepted into the
program. This is a competitive program and not all qualified applicants may be accepted.

Advanced Standing

Coursework from accredited colleges and universities will be accepted in accordance with college
policies and the program coordinator’s recommendation. In order to ensure coursework is current,
program courses over five years old must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department
coordinator before being accepted toward core requirements. College Now credit will be accepted in
accordance with the current agreement.

Graduation Requirements

Students completing all courses in this program with a grade of “C” or better will receive their certificates. Certain required courses are graded on a pass/no pass basis only. A grade of “P” for these courses indicates a student earned the equivalent of a “C” or better grade. Credits earned in this program can be applied to the Associate of General Studies degree.

¹ Required for graduation.

² Students who have successfully completed the 3-credit version of BT113 will have met the composition requirement.

For more information contact the Dental Assistant program coordinator:

Grants Pass or Medford: 541-245-7750
Toll free in Oregon: 800-411-6508, Ext. 7750
email: dental@roguecc.edu
Web address: www.roguecc.edu/alliedhealth/dental
TTY: Oregon Telecom Relay Service, 711
3345 Redwood Highway • Grants Pass, OR 97527