Dental Assistant Program Details

This program prepares the student to be an active member of the dental health team. Dental assistants work closely with the dentist, assisting them with a wide variety of clinical procedures. Infrequently, there may be some clerical aspects to the job, however the primary focus is direct patient care. Graduates may work in general dentistry, or they may opt to work in a specialty area such as endodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, or orthodontics.

What's Included:

• Chairside Procedures - Assisting both dentists and dental hygienists
• Radiology - X-rays
• Laboratory - Impressions, study models, bleaching trays
• Business Office - Dental software, common practices
• Community Health Education - One presentation in community 

About the Program

• 12 months for Three terms
  • Fall course load: 14-17 credit hours
    • (a minimum of 12 is considered full time)
  • Spring course load: 14-17 credit hours
  • Summer course load: 6-9 credit hours
• Lecture
• Hands on labs and clinics

Semester 1

• DEA 507 Principles of Dental Assisting
  • Lab 1 or 2
• DEA 249 Dental Science I
• DEA 256 Dental Anatomy I
• DEA 413 Dental Materials I
  • Lab 1 or 2
• DEA 314 Dental Radiography I
  • Lecture
  • Lab 1, 2, 3, 4

Semester 2

• DEA 323 Dental Radiography II
  • Lab 1, 2, 3, 4
• DEA 265 Dental Anatomy II
• DEA 417 Dental Materials II
• DEA 260 Dental Science II
• DEA 615 Clinical Dental Assisting
  • Lab 1, 2
• DEA 707 Dental Business 0ffice Procedures
• ENG 105 Composition I **

Summer Semester

• DEA 297: Ethics, Jurisprudence/ Clinical Seminar*
  • One day a week in class (Fridays)
  • *Gen Eds??
    • General Psychology
    • Fundamentals of speech
• DEA 579: Dental Assisting Clinical II
  • Four days a week in clinicals
  • Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday

Clinical Experience

• Provided by internships in 3 different dental facilities
• Contracts are required
• Program directed no student preferences unless your personal dentist would like to participate
• Scheduled to insure each student a comprehensive view of dentistry in various settings
  • Private office, hospitals, public health, specialty
  • Broadlawns Medical Center
  • Primary Health Care
  • VA Medical Center
  • Dental Connections

Personal Requirements

You and your classmates will be working closely with one another as partners throughout the program. To gain experience, you will be practicing the dental procedures taught in the classroom on each other. You must be willing to help your partner and classmates by participating as a recipient of care. Everyone will be practicing on each other and it’s a critical component of the program.

The dental assistant program is rigorous, and the material builds upon itself every day, therefore it is required you attend all classes. Missing a class may set you back in the program and interfere with learning opportunities that can’t be recaptured. Please manage your outside commitments (home and family, job, etc.) to ensure you will be able to attend every single class.

As a dental assistant, you will engage with the public and it is critical that you carry yourself in a professional manner. For this reason, the program has strict grooming standards for students while in lab courses and during clinical internships. These standards are set by OSHA and CDC regulations and include the following:

• Hair must be secured off the neck or above the collar
• No headbands or other embellishments allowed
• Nails must be kept short (can’t extend past the tip of the finger) and clean and nail polish and fake nails are NOT allowed.
• No rings or bracelets can be worn
• Jewelry is limited to single ¼” studs (hoops not allowed). No gauges larger than ¼” and a silicone plug matching your skin tone must be worn.
• Make up and perfume must be kept to a minimum and be professional

As is true in any dental practice, you will be working with diverse patient populations, personalities, and dental needs, which can be both challenging and rewarding. The following guidelines will help you manage and adapt to this rewarding, yet sometimes challenging, career.

• Maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.
• Stay organized and communicate with faculty (they are here to help!).
• This is new to everyone, and no one will master everything on the first try. Failure is an important part of the learning process, so embrace it and move on.
• Flexibility and curiosity are key to adapting to new things.
• Remain open to new experiences, ideas, and practices!
• Have patience with yourself and others.
• Always ask for help when an issue first begins; don’t wait until it’s too late for us to help you.

Professional Requirements

Work

Working while in school may seem like a good idea, however, please know that the dental assisting program is rigorous. You will be taking a high course load, learning a whole new language (dental terminology), and balancing classroom time with clinical experiences. It is our recommendation that you do not work or that you keep your external work schedule to a minimum.

Please also note that during the summer term, students will be engaged in full-time clinical internships. Most dental clinics don’t close before 5:00pm, so if you do decide to work during the summer, please refrain from scheduling anything prior to 5:30pm. The clinical internship is a critical part of the program and cannot be missed or made up.

Graduation

A student must:

• Complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average throughout the program
• Earn at least a “D” in every course (a grade of “F” will prevent the student from continuing in the program)
• Satisfy the requirements of the State of Iowa to be registered with the Iowa Board of Dental Examiners to practice as a dental assistant
• Sit for the Dental Assisting National Board Exam

 

Textbooks

New editions of our books arrive in the DMACC bookstore each summer ​

• The list of required books is provided during orientation
• Approximate cost: $1400.00

Used books may be purchased from past students, DMACC bookstore, online, or Textbook Outlet. Be careful to have the appropriate edition

Health Histories: Medical & Dental

• Required to be completed by your physician and dentist. Forms are handed out at orientation.
• Recommended that these be completed prior to Fall semester’s start date (last week of August) 

Immunization Records & Hepatitis B Vaccination

• A requirement for all healthcare givers
• Fee involved – student’s responsibilities
• You must provide proof of vaccinations to this program as they are received.
• It is delivered in 3 vaccinations, several weeks apart
• you must have at least 2 vaccinations before entering clinicals in January.
  • Approximate cost: $200?
• Other required vaccinations or tests: Tuberculosis; Adult Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Tdap); Varicella; Measles, Mumps Rubella (MMR)
• COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination are not requirements for admittance into the dental assisting or dental hygiene program. However, you may be assigned to an external rotation site that requires these vaccinations.

***DMACC is not required to place students in rotations based upon vaccination status

CPR Certifications

Must be a Basic Life Support class for Healthcare providers​

• Requirement of program
• DMACC offers a class every month
• Can also try
  • Red Cross
  • American Heart Association
  • community education or
  • local Fire department for classes
• Approximate cost: $65-90

Uniforms

• Requirement of the course
• Name tags
• ID Patches
• Protective Eyewear
• Two sets of scrubs
• three lab coats
  • ALL white, closed toe, leather or vinyl tennis/work shoes
  • Can get on sale if you watch throughout the summer
  • Must be worn only in clinic/lab
  • Requirement for class 2nd week of school
• Approximate cost: $300

Other Personal Protective Equipment

Provided by DMACC

• Masks, exam gloves, face shields
• *Utility Gloves
• *Radiology Dosimeters
• *Laundering Lab Coats

*Student responsible for replacement costs, if lost

Additional Financial Considerations

Textbooks: $1400

The list of required books is provided during the information session. New editions are available in the DMACC bookstore during the summer; however, some students elect to purchase used books from past students, get them online, or use a textbook outlet. Please take note of the edition and get the right one as it will make a difference.

Uniform: $400

Each student will be required to purchase the following items before the start of the second week of school. Additional information about ordering some items, such as the nametags and badges, will be provided at the information session or during the first week of school.

• Nametag
• ID patch for lab coat
• Protective eyewear
• Two sets of scrubs
• Three lab coats
• One pair of ALL WHITE, closed toe, leather or vinyl tennis/work shoes (cannot be worn outside the clinic/lab)

Incidental Costs: $880

• Lab fees (minimum $375 depending on each class)
• Student membership in American Dental Assistant Association ($35)
• Dental Assistant National Board Exam ($410)
• State of Iowa Registration Fee ($60)

Medical and Dental Health History Forms

Dental assistants are part of the healthcare profession and therefore are required to provide certain medical and dental records. Health history forms will be distributed during the information session, and you will need to submit the completed forms prior to the first day of school in late August. You are responsible for any costs associated with getting the forms completed.

Immunization Records & Hepatitis B Vaccinations

• A requirement for all healthcare givers
• Students are responsible for any costs associated with vaccine requirements
• You must provide proof of vaccinations
• The Hepatitis B vaccine is delivered in 3 doses over the course of several weeks
• You must have at least 2 Hepatitis B vaccinations before entering clinicals in January. Please plan accordingly.
• Other required vaccinations or tests: Tuberculosis; Adult Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Tdap); Varicella; Measles, Mumps Rubella (MMR)
• COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination are not requirements for admittance into the dental assisting or dental hygiene program. However, you may be assigned to an external rotation site that requires these vaccinations.

***DMACC is not required to place students in rotations based upon vaccination status

CPR Certification

You must be CPR certified prior to starting the program. The cost of certification is approximately $90-$120 and is your responsibility. Please note that the only acceptable class is the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals (BLS). Acceptable classes can be found at:

• DMACC (once a month)
• Red Cross 
• American Heart Association 

Thank you for reading through this website to learn about the dental assistant program. The next step is to register for an IN-PERSON information session. Attending an information session is a mandatory first step in the application process. All information sessions are held on the Ankeny campus. Please click on the Register Now button below to save your spot!

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