Clinical Dental Assistant
Class Dates: September 14 - November 19 (Mondays & Thursdays)
80 hour externship follows this class
Tuition: $2,850 (Grant funding opportunities available with registration)
Dental Assistants are an important part of the dental team delivering oral health care to patients. The dental assistant is typically the first contact person for the patient in the clinical area and can greatly alleviate patient anxiety with knowledge they provide. They prepare the patient for treatment and assist the Dentist or other dental providers with direct patient care. The demand for dental professionals is constant and opportunities for professional growth within the dental setting abundant. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 11% through 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, with a median annual wage of $41,180.
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of dental assisting from clerical to clinical. It will prepare the student to be employed more easily with a good basic understanding of dental terminology, sterilization techniques, OSHA requirements, how to take impressions and pour dental models, how to take radiographs and become x-ray certified within the State of Michigan, how to gather and record patient health data and more. Having this knowledge and radiography certification makes the student a valuable hire and gets them started in the dental field with confidence. The course includes guiding the student to a local dental office for a week long externship to gain valuable hands on, real life dental assisting experience.
When a student completes this course, the student will be able to take dental radiographs, recognize dental equipment, gather patient health statistics, understand dental materials, be able to properly sterilize and process instruments, be able to take impressions and pour up dental models, transfer instruments safely to the Dentist or other provider, will be familiar with dental terminology, and much more. This course gives the student the basic skills to build upon for a successful dental career. The course will provide the student with all the information on how to apply for the Dental Assisting National Board’s National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) examination or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination for certification. Once you have gained clinical experience and required in-person hours, you will be prepared for the National Dental Assistants Board exam for certification.
Requirements: You must pass a background check and provide the following health/vaccination documentation:
- Covid 19
- Current BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider card*
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza
*We offer free training & card to students if needed.
This 12-week program includes:
• 80 hours of in-person training
• Textbooks
• Interactive sessions and hands-on training
• Assistance with grant opportunities to cover tuition
• Access to communication with qualified instructors
• Exam fees
• 80 hour externship at a local dental office
• Assistance with job placement
• Access to NCMC facilities and learning resources
