Dental assisting | Stark State College | North Canton, Ohio
Dental Hygiene Clinic

Dental assisting

Prepare to work as a clinical assistant; infection control manager; practice manager; or dental hygiene assistant and/or receptionist in dental offices, dental clinics and public health facilities.

You’ll get training to provide basic, supplemental and supportive dental services alongside licensed dental professionals. The curriculum includes instruction in the dental sciences, materials, radiography, office management, preventative dentistry and general chair side procedures.

Courses are offered during the day, evening and weekends during fall, spring and summer semesters.

With two semesters and completion of major courses, you can earn a career enhancement certificate and be able to sit for Ohio’s dental assistant certification exam. After completing career enhancement certificate courses, you’re also eligible to apply for the Ohio dental assistant’s radiographer certificate. With four additional semesters of study, you can earn an associate of science degree with a major in dental assisting.*

After two semesters of study and completion of the major courses, you’ll earn a certificate and can sit for Ohio’s certified dental assistant exam or the American Medical Technologists, Registered Dental Assistant exam..

*Students who have a dental assisting certificate from a tech prep or career/technical center program and have successfully passed state or national CDA examinations can apply their dental assisting courses toward the associate degree.

Your pathway to a degree

You can start with a dental assisting certificate, taking classes that directly apply to the associate degree in dental assisting:

Dental assisting certificate

Associate degree

  • high school diploma or GED
  • complete the College’s admissions process including completion of the ACCUPLACER exam and providing high school and/or college transcripts for evaluation
  • submit a health program application to the Academic/Records/Registrar’s Office
  • complete critical analysis (IDS102) or demonstrate proficiency in college reading through the ACCUPLACER placement assessment or ACT scores

Program learning outcomes

  • Communicate in a professional manner with patients, families, dentists, other health care providers, and community groups.
  • Use ethical judgment in the delivery of dental assisting functions.
  • Utilize community partnerships to prepare students for employment as an integral member of the dental team.
  • Utilize knowledge, skills, and abilities in the application of dental assisting functions.
  • Participate in the ADAA professional organization.

 

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