Dental Assistant - CERT
The dental assisting program is a full time, one year program, begins in the fall with sequential classes in the spring and summer semesters. All pre-requisites must be completed before entry into the cohort. Students will complete required non-monetary externship clinical practicum hours in the spring and in the summer, the student is responsible for travel to clinic site and exam fees. Dental assistants perform a growing variety of duties in the dental field: general chairside assisting, laboratory procedures and infection control. Duties include but are not limited to: therapeutic communication, multicultural interaction, psychology, oral health, preventive techniques, nutrition, chair side instrumentation, infection control, equipment safety, equipment maintenance, dental office emergencies and pain/anxiety management. The New Mexico State Board of Dental Health requires Dental Assistants to be certified has implemented new standards that include certification in coronal polishing, topical fluoride and as well as pit and fissure sealants. Students may choose to take national certification through DANB. (Dental Assisting National Board) The assistant is responsible for all preparation of dental office procedures, chair side assisting, and reception activities. The demanding versatility requires a person dedicated to the profession and a commitment to function as a dental health care team member.
Completion of this certificate can be applied toward the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Vocational/Technical Studies.
Degree Requirements
The follow degree requirements are for the 2015-2018 Catalog. For other catalogs, please see CatalogsMinimum of 52 Credit Hours
| Program Requirements (37 credit hours) | ||
|---|---|---|
| DENT103 | Dental Materials | 5 |
| DENT109 | Prevntv Dentistry/Oral Hlth Care | 1 |
| DENT118 | Dental Assisting | 3 |
| DENT119 | Dental Terminology | 1 |
| DENT128 | Community Field Experience | 1 |
| DENT145 | Bio-Dental Science | 3 |
| DENT160 | Dental Radiology | 4 |
| DENT167 | Oral Medicine | 2 |
| DENT170 | Clinical Training/Practicum I | 7 |
| DENT209 | Professional Ethics | 2 |
| DENT220 | Dental Office Management | 2 |
| DENT226 | Dental Pharmacology | 1 |
| DENT233 | Laboratory Procedures | 2 |
| DENT270 | Clinical Training/Practicum II | 3 |
| Related Studies (15 credit hours) | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AH113 | Medical Terminology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| CSA150 | Computer Fundamentals | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| ENG111 | Freshman Composition I | 3 | |||||||||||||||
| PSYC101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Dental Assistant prerequisite courses of AH113, CSA150, ENG111, MATH075, PSYC101 and SPCH111 or SPCH112 must be completed prior to entrance into the program.
Bloodborne Pathogen Risk Statement
All individuals interested in pursuing the Dental Assistant Certificate should be aware that the dental field does have some risk of occupational hazards. The nature of the occupation could involve contact with infectious diseases, including AIDS and Hepatitis. All students admitted to the program will receive proper instruction in standard precautions and use of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of blood and body fluid exposures.
Dental Assisting Certificate Curriculum Profile 2015-2018
Dental Assisting Program Student Handbook 2018-2019
Occupational Opportunities