Description
This program prepares students to work in many specialty areas of dentistry, including restorative dentistry and preventative oral health care. Students learn the skills necessary to provide patient education, apply pit and fissure sealants, produce intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs, polish teeth and fillings, assist the dentist, prepare dental materials, and manage dental offices.
Limited Access Programs, Acceptance Requirements, and Curricular Sequences
The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting Program is a limited access program, meaning there are special, particular or additional admission and/or placement requirements beyond those normally required by the College. In many cases, these requirements include prerequisite classes that must be completed prior to the student’s placement into courses in the particular program area. Clinical seating availability is limited in all health education programs. Applicants must complete TCTC admission requirements and the additional program clinical admission requirements.
Because prerequisite requirements may exist for limited access programs, the following curriculum displays are for information only and should not be interpreted as an exact representation of course progression. The information outlines program course requirements necessary for completing a particular program of study. Students should confer with their program advisor for more specific information.
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of limited access program admission, program progression and program prerequisite requirements. Students should confer with their program advisor anytime clarification or explanation is needed.
In addition to meeting general admission requirements, Expanded Duty Dental Assisting majors are required to meet the curriculum specific requirements outlined below:
- Students must complete recommended developmental studies courses based on course placement criteria.
- Students must have an institutional GPA of 2.0 or higher. There are additional progression requirements in the Catalog. A grade of “C” or greater is needed in all required courses within the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program to progress. A student may repeat a maximum of two major courses. Students should also refer to individual program handbooks for additional information.
- Students must meet required divisional or program technical standards.
- Students who transfer into associate degree programs must have a transfer or institutional GPA of 2.5 or higher on previous college work (TCTC GPA supersedes any outside GPA).
- Students are required to carry professional liability insurance, which is obtained through the College.
- Some clinical agencies may require proof of personal health insurance. This is the sole responsibility of the student. Students should contact the Dean of Student Development for more information.
- Clinical agencies require criminal background checks for the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program. Certain clinical agencies may necessitate more than one background check and/or drug screen. The results of the criminal background check and yearly drug screen determine if a student is eligible to enter clinical agencies. A student must be able to enter and/or remain in all clinical agencies to progress within a program. Inability to progress within a major for this reason will result in administrative withdrawal from the program. Note: Most Health Education programs require certification or licensure in order to use titles and/or practice the profession. Conviction of a felony, a plea of guilty to a felony, or certain misdemeanor convictions may make the applicant ineligible for certification or licensure.
Entry to Clinical Program
It is the responsibility of the student to track the progress of program prerequisites. The program curriculum guide can be found on the TCTC public website, www.tctc.edu/edda. The student must meet with an assigned program advisor each semester to obtain guidance and to ensure prerequisite changes have not occurred. (Changes in program and curricular requirements can occur.) Once prerequisites are completed, the student must print and complete the “Notice of Completion” form found on the public website under each program. The student is then required to meet with the Program Director or Department Head for signature verification of completion. The Program Director will submit the information to the Division Admission Liaison. When verified, the date on which this form is submitted then becomes the student’s “Complete Date.”
The Complete Date means the student is eligible to start the actual Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program classes with the next available cohort as long as space is available. The minimum GPA must be maintained to continue on the Complete List.
- Eligible students will receive an email through the student’s Tri-County Technical College email account of acceptance into the program. This email serves as an official offer for a seat into the program and identifies the program deposit fee and deadline date.
- Failure to pay the program deposit fee by the specified date will result in delayed entry. Once the student pays the nonrefundable program deposit fee, a seat will be held for entry into the next program class. The student must continue to maintain the minimum GPA even though the program deposit fee has been paid.
- In the event two eligible students have the same complete date, the College will use the GPA to determine who gets the seat. The student with the higher GPA would be offered a seat before the student with the same complete date but a lower GPA.
If an entrance policy changes for a particular program, the student’s requirements would remain the same unless the student withdraws from enrollment or is not enrolled for two consecutive terms. If such a withdrawal or non-enrollment occurs, the student is required to meet new entrance policies in the current College Catalog.
Health Education Medical Requirements
Students admitted to Health Education programs must present proof of immunization or immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) and annual flu vaccine. (Health forms are available from the Division Office or at tctc.edu/edd.) All students in Health Education programs must have documentation of Tuberculosis status. Immunization to Hepatitis B is expected as a means to avert serious illness and to meet clinical agency requirements. A student who refuses immunization to Hepatitis B is required to sign a declination form, which will be kept in the student’s file. Some clinical agencies will not require a signed declination form. Clinical agencies reserve the right to not accept declination forms for certain immunizations, i.e. flu vaccine.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Perform essential dental assisting skills
- Perform chairside dental assisting functions
- Perform advanced/expanded dental assisting functions
- Manage dental practice
- Apply knowledge of bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication standards to all work performed
- Use and manipulate dental materials
- Expose dental images
- Assume responsibility for ethical and professional responsibilities
- Memorize dental science material
Graduation Credits Required: 50
