Accreditation
The program in Dental Assisting is accredited by the 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 Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
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Mission Statement
The mission of the dental assisting diploma is to prepare competent and qualified dental assistants with the necessary knowledge and technical skills, who will respond in an ethical and professional manner to the needs of their patients and employer.
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Work Environment
Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Dental assistants wear personal protective equipment as recommended for infectious disease prevention and are trained in the CDC recommendations for sharps injury prevention, and radiology health and safety.
Almost half of dental assistants had a 35- to 40-hour workweek in 2008. More than one-third worked part time, or less than 35 hours per week, and many others have variable schedules. Depending on the hours of the dental office where they work, assistants may have to work on Saturdays or evenings. Some dental assistants hold multiple jobs by working at dental offices that are open on different days or by scheduling their work at a second office around the hours they work at their primary office.
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Nature of the Work
Dental assistants are competent in the technical areas of preventative dentistry; four-handed dentistry; chair-side assisting with emphasis in diagnostics, operative, fixed prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontic procedures, endodontic procedures, and surgical and expanded functions; dental practice management; specialties; and dental radiology.
Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, provide appropriate instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain and update patients' dental records. Assistants make patients comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction hoses or other devices. They also instruct patients on postoperative and general oral healthcare.
Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations and expose and process dental x-rays as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place dental dams to isolate teeth for treatment.
Dental assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Those with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, file insurance, and order dental supplies and materials.
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Employment
The multi-service profession provides diversified employment opportunities for dental assistants. The employment opportunities include general dentistry; group practice; specific dental specialties such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthetics, periodontics, and pediodontics; dental school clinics; federal, state, and community clinics. Other opportunities include managing a dental business office, working in a major dental manufacturing or insurance company, serving in the armed forces, or teaching or working in research and development at a college or other agency.
Dental assistants held about 295,300 jobs nationally in 2008. About 93 percent of all jobs for dental assistants were in offices of dentists. A small number of jobs were in the federal, state, and local governments or in offices of physicians. Employment is expected to grow 36 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008-2018 projection period.
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Earnings
Median annual wages nationally of dental assistants were $32,380 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,980 and $38,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,150. Benefits vary substantially by practice setting and may be contingent upon full-time employment. According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), 86 percent of Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) reported receiving paid vacation from their employers, and more than half of CDAs received health benefits.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
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Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the diploma program in Dental Assisting will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Perform current entry-level dental assisting skills
- Use critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate knowledge of dental specialties, dental management, and being a member of the dental team
- Pass the dental assisting national board examination/certification and the Georgia expanded functions certification
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
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Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
According to the nature of the work required in the Dental Assisting program, students must be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Reach, manipulate, and operate equipment necessary for the Dental Assistant
- Possess the dexterity to manipulate and mix dental materials
- Visually assess patients' conditions and clearly see patients' teeth from a distance of 20 inches
- Move, adjust, and position patients as needed
- Communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal, and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, and all members of the dental team
- Have sufficient emotional stability and responsibility to withstand the stresses, uncertainties, and changing circumstances that characterize the work duties of dental assisting
- Work in a sitting position for at least one hour at a time
- Display flexibility and adaptability
- Possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic and comply with the Dental Assisting Code of Ethics
- Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation
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Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Program supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact costs
- Background check and drug screening (Approximately $100 per required check/screening)
- Certification/Examinations
- General Chair-Side National Board examination ($175)
- Georgia Board of Dentistry - Expanded Functions certification ($75)
- Infection Control National Board examination ($175)
- Radiology Health and Safety National Board examination ($175)
- Dental Assisting Supplies (Approximately $55 for program)
- Immunizations
- Hepatitis B ($200)
- Mumps, Measles, Rubella ($25)
- Varicella ($25)
- Tetanus ($25)
- Tuberculosis skin test ($25)
- Malpractice insurance ($11 each year)
- Physical examination (Approximately $100)
- Radiation monitor fees ($25 per semester)
- Textbooks (Approximately $600 for entire program)
- Uniforms (Approximately $250)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
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Gainful Employment
Information on graduation rates, job placement rates, median loan debt incurred by students and other gainful employment information is available on the college website.
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Admission Requirements
Because the Dental Assisting profession requires not only theoretical and clinical skills, but also the ability to learn and apply new knowledge quickly, the Dental Assisting program at Athens Technical College uses a competitive admission process to select students. Program faculty and the Admissions Office staff designed the process to ensure maximum opportunity for student success in the program and on the Dental Assisting National Board. Applicants who are on academic probation or are academically dismissed from the college as of the March 1 application deadline will not be considered for admission. Prospective students gain admission to the college initially as Healthcare Assistant program students/applicants to Dental Assisting in order to complete any learning support classes and required general core and health core courses.
The Dental Assisting program sequencing begins once a year at the beginning of Summer Semester. Applicants must complete the preliminary admission process by March 1. Applicants not selected for the program on the initial attempt may reapply during subsequent admission intake periods. There is no waiting list between intake periods; applicants must complete the application process for each attempt at entry into the program.
Program Preliminary Requirements
To receive consideration for admission to the Dental Assisting program, applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office by March 1:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official transcripts showing that applicants earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school and on all college work attempted (applicants transferring from other colleges will not be required to submit high school transcripts if they completed a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credit hours of study at one or more colleges)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
- Official birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, or state-issued photo identification cards to document that they are at least 17 years of age
- Documentation showing the completion of 20 hours of observation in a dental office (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office, from the program chair, and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - select Selective Admissions Forms)
- Completed and signed Intent forms (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu-select Prospective Students and then Competitive Health Pgms)
The number of students accepted to the program is limited. The Admissions Office staff and program faculty rank applicants according to the criteria above. The staff then invites a group of the highest ranking applicants to continue the application process in the following manner:
- Submit a personal statement essay (500 words or less) to demonstrate an understanding of the job requirements of dental assistants, detail any prior dental experience, and explain their interest in the program
- Review and sign Code of Ethics (available from the program chair and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - select Selective Admissions Forms), which includes the responsibility to provide oral care for all patients without discrimination
- Participate in a personal interview
From this group, 14 students will gain admission to the program. Students must complete all core classes prior to enrolling in Dental Assisting (DENA) classes. Prior to Summer Semester when students start the DENA courses, they must have the following documents on file in the Dental Assisting Office:
- Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (for healthcare providers)
- Copy of immunization records
- Results of medical and dental examinations
- Verification of medical and malpractice insurance (see Malpractice Insurance)
- A signed document acknowledging that they may be required to complete drug testing and/or background checks at their own expense prior to participating in internships, practicums, or clinical activities at certain host sites for these activities (see Drug Testing/Background Checks) (blank documents are available from the program chair or the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - select Selective Admissions Forms)
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Readmission Policy
If students withdraw from the program for any reason, they must follow the steps detailed under Life Sciences Programs Readmission. In addition, students seeking readmission will abide by all policies and procedures in place at the time of their request for readmission.
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Residency Policy
Only in the event that the program slots cannot be filled with Georgia residents who meet the minimum admissions criteria can out-of-state students be admitted to the Dental Assisting program.
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