Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

What is a Dental Assistant?

A dental assistant works on the delivery of quality oral health care and is a big part of the dental care team. Responsibilities include performing tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills, assisting the dentist with the patient, developing dental radiographs (x-ray), collecting information about patients’ medical history, and assisting patients to feel comfortable when entering the office and during treatment.

Course Description

This 2-semester (Fall/Spring) program consists of 200 lecture/lab hours + 150 clinical hours at an offsite location and is designed to introduce students into the dental profession. It will teach students about what is required to work in a dental practice. Topics include; infection control, dental charting, preparing the patient, basic chair-side assisting, dental instruments and hand-pieces, tray set-up and procedures, dental materials, and business administration procedures. Students will learn material through PowerPoint lectures, discussions, and lab demonstrations.

This course will also provide dental assistant students with the fundamental principals upon which dental radiology is based. The course will cover basic radiation health and safety, an introduction to dental radiography and equipment, and the production and evaluation of dental radio-graphs. Topics include; understanding dental radiation, process radiographic film, identify and correct errors, expose and evaluate radio-graphs, and apply infection control techniques. Students will also receive additional certification in Blood Borne Pathogens, HIPPA, and OSHA.

Please note: Students must have reliable transportation to clinical sites assigned by the instructor. Clinical dates are assigned based off of the site availability. Request are taken, but not always granted.

Certification

Course content will focus on preparing the student to sit for the “Radiation Health & Safety” (RHS) and the “Infection Control Exam” (ICE) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification, as required by law, in the state of Connecticut. The DANB, RHS, and ICE exams are administered by computer at PROMETRICS Testing Centers.

A final grade of 70 (C-) or higher is required to pass this course.

Prerequisites

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • High School Diploma/GED required for National Exam
  • Completed TRCC Health Form; TB (PPD skin test), MMR or Titer, Varicella or Titer, COVID vaccines and booster, most recent Influenza.

Required Supplies

  • Navy Blue Scrubs

Course Schedule

Fall 2023 CRN # 80480/ Spring 2024 *For Current Students Only*

  • Instructor: Brandie Frechette
  • Instructional Method: Traditional – These classes are fully on campus. For more information about Instructional Methods, visit here.
  • Fall
    • Dates: Mondays and Thursdays, 9/11/23-12/11/23 (No class: 10/9, 11/23)
    • Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Location: B118 on Mondays and A206 on Thursdays
  • Spring
    • Dates: Mondays and Thursdays, 12/14/2023-4/5/2024 (No class: 12/23/2023-1/7/2024)
    • Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Location: B120 on Mondays and A206 on Thursdays
  • Cost: $4,999, textbook and licensing fee included* Students will receive textbook on the first day of class
  • Registration Deadline: TBD

Register Now!

To register for this course, please visit our Workforce Registration Page. You’ll find directions on how to register, along with information about information sessions with Workforce advisors, funding sources for financing your tuition, refund policies, and more.

Please Note: It is mandatory that you provide all necessary forms with your registration. A seat will not be held until all of your documentation and payment are received.

SNAP, Veterans and WIOA Eligible