Dental Assisting, Diploma - DA12

The Dental Assisting diploma will allow you to enter the dental field as a dental assistant and function as a chair-side assistant or administrative assistant. As a graduate, you will be competent in the technical areas of preventive dentistry; four-handed dentistry; chair-side assisting with emphasis on diagnostics; operative field prosthodontics; pediatric dentistry; orthodontic procedures; endodontic procedures; dental practice management; and dental radiology.

Employment opportunities include general dentistry; group practice; specific dental specialties such as oral surgery, endodontics, and orthodontics; public health dentistry; dental school clinics; and federal, state, and community clinics. Your education will also qualify you to manage a dental business office or serve in the armed forces.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association accredits the Columbus Technical College Dental Assisting Program. https://www.ada.org/en/coda      

This is a competitive admissions program. Please see the Admissions section of the Student Handbook/Catalog for more information.

Program Curriculum

All pre-requisite courses and occupational courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better.

ALHS 1011 or DENA 1010 is acceptable for program admission.

COMP 1000 or MAST1060 is acceptable for program admission.

 

The Dental Assisting accredited program prepares students for employment in various positions in today's dental offices. The Dental Assisting program provides learning opportunities that introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or retrain in dental assisting. Graduates of the program receive a Dental Assisting diploma and are eligible to earn the Georgia Expanded Duties certification and may take the Dental Assisting National Board examination.

General Core Courses (12 credit hours)

ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I

3

PSYC 1010Basic Psychology

3

ALHS 1040Introduction to Health Care

3

MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics

3

Fundamental Occupational Courses (11 or 15 credit hours)

DENA 1010Basic Human Biology

1

or

ALHS 1011Structure and Function of the Human Body

5

DENA 1030Preventive Dentistry

1

DENA 1050Microbiology and Infection Control

3

DENA 1070Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

2

DENA 1080Dental Anatomy

4

Specific Occupational Courses (22 credit hours)

DENA 1090Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

1

DENA 1340Dental Assisting I: General Chairside

6

DENA 1350Dental Assisting II: Dental Specialties and EFDA Skills

7

DENA 1390Dental Radiology

4

DENA 1400Dental Practice Management

2

DENA 1460Dental Practicum I

1

DENA 1470Dental Practicum II

1

DENA 1480Dental Practicum III

5

ENGL 1010, ALHS 1040, MATH 1012: courses to use for competitive admission ranking

Total Credit Hours: 50

Total Credit Hours: 50