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Dental Assistant
Award:
Associate of Applied Science
Total Credits for Award:
60.00
Program Requirements:
Progression to the A.A.S. Requires successful completion of first semester and:
• Passing of a criminal background check prior to placement in an internship assignment to be able to access programs in the community for assignments in course work as well as prior to a placement in internships.
• Documentation of currently required Immunizations.
• Grades of “C” (2.0) or above in all DNTA theory and combination theory/lab courses, and all program-required General Education courses.
Description:
The Dental Assistant program will provide the foundation and skills to work with the dentist, dental team and patients, providing a variety of patient cares, assist within the business office and/or complete laboratory duties.
Coursework includes an introduction to the dental field, basic and dental sciences, dental materials, chair side assisting, radiology, Minnesota expanded functions and clinical experience. The goal is to ensure you will be an indispensable member of a dental health team.
Classroom, preclinical and clinical experiences will prepare you to take the Certification Examination offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the Licensure and Jurisprudence Examinations offered by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: FIRST SEMESTER:
Program First Semester (Fall) Requirements
Progression to the Dental Assistant program requires you to successfully complete the first semester course work listed below.
|
COURSE #
|
TITLE
|
CREDITS
|
GOAL AREA(S)
|
|
HCCC 1010
|
Behaviors for Success in Healthcare
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1020
|
Communication in Healthcare
|
1
|
|
|
HCCC 1030
|
Awareness and Sensitivity to Client Needs
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1040
|
Respecting Client and Staff Diversity
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1050
|
Healthcare Safety and Standard Precautions
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1060
|
Legal Issues in Healthcare
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1070
|
Healthcare Ethics
|
0.5
|
|
|
HCCC 1100
|
Medical Terminology
|
1
|
|
|
DNTA 1000
|
Introduction to the Dental Field
|
2
|
|
|
DNTA 1015
|
Customer Service Skills for the Dental Office
|
3
|
|
|
DNTA 1025
|
Clinic Support for the Dental Office
|
2
|
|
|
DNTA 1035
|
Dental Office Support Skills Lab
|
1
|
|
|
CMST 1010 Or
CMST 1014 Or
CMST 2012
|
Interpersonal Communication
Health Communication (strongly recommended)
Intercultural Communication
|
3
|
1
1,7
1,8
|
|
|
TOTAL CREDITS:
|
16
|
|
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: SECOND SEMESTER:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: THIRD SEMESTER:
|
COURSE #
|
TITLE
|
CREDITS
|
GOAL AREA(S)
|
|
DNTA 1240
|
Dental Assisting Chairside 2
|
2
|
|
|
DNTA 1260
|
Dental Assistant Expanded Functions 1
|
4
|
|
|
ENGL 1110 Or
ENGA 1110
|
College Composition
|
3
|
1 |
| |
TOTAL CREDITS:
|
9
|
|
These courses are taken during a summer term.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: FOURTH SEMESTER:
|
COURSE #
|
TITLE
|
CREDITS
|
GOAL AREA(S)
|
|
DNTA 1350
|
Radiology 2
|
3
|
|
|
*DNTA 1360
|
Dental Assistant Expanded Functions 2
*Students in their first or second trimester of pregnancy should contact the program director prior to registering for this course.
|
4
|
|
|
**DNTA 1375
|
Clinical Internship 2
|
4
|
|
|
BIOL 1120
|
Nutrition
|
3
|
3 |
| PHIL 2121 |
Medical Ethics |
3 |
6,9 |
| |
TOTAL CREDITS:
|
17
|
|
General Education Courses (15 Credits): To complete the Dental Assistant Associate of Applied Science, students are required to successfully complete fifteen credits of General Education coursework. This coursework must be selected from at least three of the 10 MnTC Goal Areas. By completing the required MnTC courses these requirements will be satisfied.
**Students must successfully complete DNTA 1350 Radiology 2 and DNTA 1360 Dental Assistant Expanded Functions 2 in the first half of the third semester to be eligible to participate in the community based learning of DNTA 1375 Clinical Internship 2.
The Dental Assistant Program Also Requires:
- Grades of “C” (2.0) or above in all DNTA courses to continue in the Dental Assistant program.
- Passing of a criminal background check during their first semester.
- The college cannot guarantee a placement in clinical for students who do not have a clear criminal background check.
- For more information about the background study process and disqualifying crimes, contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services at 651-296-3802.
All students pursuing this award should work closely with their advisor to ensure proper selection of required program courses, if applicable program electives, required Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses, and MnTC electives. You are expected to meet with your advisor on a regular basis to ensure courses are taken in an order that will lead to efficient and successful completion of the required coursework.