Dental Assisting
Program Description
As a dental assistant, you interact with patients and assist dentists to provide quality dental health which is sure to put a smile on anyone's face. Our program provides you opportunities to develop specialized skills in dental health education, chair-side assisting, various laboratory procedures, coronal polishing, radiation exposure and processing, business office procedures, and more than 300 hours of clinical experience.
Your hands-on classroom includes laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical instruction covering dental assisting skills and related theory. To prepare yourself for our curriculum, we recommend you take courses in biology, anatomy, chemistry, health, nutrition, and computer skills.
Dental assistants are classified as licensed professionals in the state of Nebraska. With your license, you will be able to continue your education and training in advanced dental assisting courses.
START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Getting Started Checklist: Diploma (PDF) to complete the program application process. (All students must start with the diploma program first.)
START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Getting Started Checklist: AAS (PDF) (Diploma in Dental Assisting degree required) to complete the program application process. (Students must be a graduate of the diploma program.)
Additional links/resources:
- Student Health Statement & TB Documentation (PDF)
- Professional Awareness (PDF)
- Online Program Application
- Digital Resume
- Essential Functions (PDF)
- CPR Training
You’re a Good Fit
Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. Your skills are both interpersonal and technical which are among the most comprehensive in the dental office. You will be a successful dental assistant if you:
- are detail oriented and able to work on a team
- make patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
- are able to communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
- anticipate a patient’s needs, making quick decisions without supervision
- communicate and teach appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health
- document and communicate changes in the patient’s condition with other health care providers
- have the ability to multitask
- are a person of character with honesty and integrity
Careers
You picked the right time to become a dental assistant. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations fuels the demand for dental services. Recent SCC graduates report an average annual starting salary of $40,456. Career options include:
- Certified Dental Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Orthodontic Assistant
- Licensed Dental Assistant
- Dental Claims Processor
- Office Manager
Accreditation
The Dental Assisting program at SCC is accredited by:
ADA - CODA
211 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-4653
http://www.ada.org/en/coda
This program has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
State Licensure or Certification Requirements
This program’s curriculum has been approved through a National accreditor, the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. This program is acceptable in all states, however, other states may have additional requirements.
States offering programs similar to SCC’s are: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH,OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI.