State Board Approval Date:

10/02

Implementation Date:

Fall 2003

Last Updated:

08/05/03

Dental Assisting, Diploma

Program Standard and Course Guide

Table of Contents

General Program Standards

SPECIFIC PROGRAM STANDARDS

Admission Requirements

DA02-03-02-01

Provisional Program Admissions

DA02-03-02-04

Program Numbering

DA02-03-03-02

Program Course Consistency and Sequence

DA02-03-03-03

Program Course List

Accreditation (Guide)

Appendix A

Suggested Course Sequence (Guide)

Appendix B

Suggested Equipment List (Guide)

Appendix C

ADMISSIONS

Standard Number: DA02-02-01 (Admission Requirements)

Standard Statement

Statewide admission requirements are implemented for the Dental Assisting, Level program.

Explanatory Comment

Admission refers to regular admission into a Diploma program.

Statewide program admission requirements consider state and national occupational licensing and certifying requirements, where applicable. The institution develops and implements clearly stated Diploma program admissions policies and procedures.

Admission requirements are related to the functions of the Dental Assisting, Diploma profession.

Evaluative Criteria

The institution develops, implements, and publishes clearly stated Dental Assisting, Diploma program admission and advanced placement policies and procedures.

The requirements for admission to the Dental Assisting, Diploma program are:

a)        attainment of 17 years of age;

b)        documentation of high school graduation or satisfaction of High School Equivalency Certificate requirements;

c)        achievement of minimum regular admission scores on tests of reading, language, and math as specified in GDTAE document Minimum Program Entrance Scores; and

d)        completion of application and related procedures.

 

Admission of transfer students to the Dental Assisting program is contingent upon their meeting the following requirements:

a)        regular admission and good standing at a regionally accredited diploma or degree granting institution;

b)a)        proper completion of application and related procedures.

         

Standard Number: DA02-02-04 (Provisional Admission Requirements)

Standard Statement

Statewide provisional admission requirements are implemented for the Dental Assisting, Diploma program.

Explanatory Comment

Provisional admission is granted to qualified students who do not meet the regular admission requirements of the program.

Provisionally admitted students are allowed to take developmental studies courses and/or certain occupational courses as designated in the course sequence standard.

The institution develops, implements, and publishes clearly stated policies and procedures for entry into programs on a provisional basis.

Evaluative Criteria

Provisional admission to the Dental Assisting, Diploma program is afforded those students who do not meet program requirements but do meet provisional admission requirements.

The requirements for provisional admission to the Dental Assisting, Diploma program are:

a)        attainment of 17 years of age;

b)        achievement of minimum provisional admission scores on tests of reading, language, and math as specified in GDTAE document Minimum Program Entrance Scores;

c)        recommendation by program faculty and designated admissions personnel on the basis of interview and assessment of student potential;

d)        completion of application and related procedures.

 

All Dental Assisting, Diploma program students initially admitted on a provisional basis meet regular admission requirements prior to graduation.

Provisionally admitted students whose English, math, and/or reading achievement levels do not meet regular program admission requirements are required to enroll in developmental studies courses approved by the State Board of Technical and Adult Education.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Standard Number:  DA02-03-02 (Program Numbering System)

Standard Statement

A Major Code of DA02 and a CIP Code of 51.060102 are applied to the Dental Assisting, Diploma program

Explanatory Comment

Assignment of a statewide Major Code DA02 and CIP Code 51.060102  to the Diploma program is the basis from which statewide programmatic consistency is developed.

Each degree/diploma/certificate program complies with the assigned Major Code(s) established in the relevant program-specific standards of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education.

Evaluative Criteria

Each authorized degree/diploma/certificate program is assigned a Major Code and CIP Code.

Each degree/diploma/certificate program having a given Major Code is consistent with all other programs throughout the state that have the same Major Code.

Degree/diploma/certificate programs having multiple specializations are assigned a specialization Major Code for each option.

Standard Number: DA02-03-03 (Program Consistency and Sequence)

Standard Statement

The Dental Assisting, Diploma program utilizes essential course components consistent with statewide program requirements.  Specific course alphanumeric identification Codes are assigned to each course.  Students are required to progress through two course categories in a developmentally valid sequence.

Explanatory Comment

Programs are assigned an identical Major Code DA02 and are consistent statewide.  Each specific course is assigned an alphanumeric descriptor that serves as a statewide course identification code.

Evaluative Criteria

The Dental Assisting, Diploma program is assigned a Major Code of DA02, and utilizes essential components designated for that program number statewide.  Program components include, but are not limited to:

Dental Assisting

Dental Assisting, Diploma

Program Description

The Dental Assisting accredited program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in today's dental offices.  The Dental Assisting program provides learning opportunities which 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 to retrain in the area of dental assisting.  Graduates of the program receive a Dental Assisting diploma and are eligible to sit for a national certification examination.

Course Code

General Core Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

ENG 101

English

[P] ENG 097, or entrance English score in accordance with approved DTAE admission score levels; and RDG 097, or entrance reading score in accordance with approved DTAE admission score levels

 

 

 

5

0

0

5

5

MAT 100

Basic Mathematics

[P] MAT 096, or entrance arithmetic score in accordance with approved DTAE admission score levels

3

0

0

3

3

PSY 101

Basic Psychology

[P] Provisional admission

5

0

0

5

5

Course Code

Occupational Course Name

Class
Hours

D.
Lab
Hours

P.
Lab/
OBI
Hours

Weekly
Contact
Hours

Credit
Hours

AHS 104

Introduction to Healthcare

[P] Provisional admission

2

0

3

5

3

DEN 101

Basic Human Biology

[P] Provisional admission

3

0

0

3

3

DEN 102

Head and Neck Anatomy

[P/C] DEN 101

2

0

0

2

2

DEN 103

Preventive Dentistry

[P/C] DEN 106, DEN 134

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 105

Microbiology and Infection Control

[P] Provisional admission

2

2

0

4

3

DEN 106

Oral Anatomy

[P] Program admission

5

0

0

5

5

DEN 107

Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

[P] DEN 101, DEN 106

4

0

0

4

4

DEN 109

Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

[P] Successful completion of all dental assisting didactic courses or two years of full-time work experience (3,500 hours) as a dental assistant, along with recommendation from the dentist employer

3

0

0

3

3

DEN 134

Dental Assisting I

[P] Program admission [P/C] DEN 105, DEN 106

4

6

0

10

7

DEN 135

Dental Assisting II

[P] DEN 134

4

6

0

10

7

DEN 136

Dental Assisting III

[P] DEN 135

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 137

Dental Assisting-Expanded Functions

[P] DEN 134, DEN 135 [C] DEN 136

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 138

Scopes of Professional Practices

[P] Program admission

2

0

0

2

2

DEN 139

Dental Radiology

[P] DEN 102, DEN 106

4

2

0

6

5

DEN 140

Dental Practice Management

[P/C] SCT 100,  DEN 134

4

2

0

6

5

DEN 146

Dental Practicum I

[P/C] DEN 105,  DEN 134, DEN 139

0

0

6

6

2

DEN 147

Dental Practicum II

[P] DEN 135, DEN 146

0

0

6

6

2

DEN 148

Dental Practicum III

[P] DEN 103, DEN 137, DEN 140, DEN 134, DEN 135, DEN 136

 

0

0

24

24

8

SCT 100

Introduction to Microcomputers

[P] Provisional admission

1

4

0

5

3

 

Program Final Exit Point

Dental Assisting, Diploma

89 minimum quarter hours credit required for graduation

APPENDIX A

Accreditation and Certification

The Dental Assisting, Diploma program must conform to the institutional accreditation requirements of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (COC).

This program must meet the requirements stated in the Accreditation Standards for Dental Assisting Education Programs.

 

Dental Assistants are certified by the Dental Assisting National Board.  Students may sit for the national exam upon completion of the program.

APPENDIX B

General Information

Dental Assisting, Diploma Program Curriculum Model

Suggested Course Sequence

The standard curriculum for Dental Assisting, Diploma program is set up on the quarter system.  A suggested sequence for the program is given below with area of specialization.  Technical colleges may implement the Dental Assisting, Diploma program by using the sequences listed below or by using a locally developed sequence designed to reflect course prerequisites and/or corequisites.

Suggested Sequence I

First Quarter

Course Code

Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

DEN 101

Human Biology

3

0

0

3

3

DEN 106

Oral Anatomy

5

0

0

5

5

ENG 101

English

5

0

0

5

5

MAT 100

Basic Mathematics

3

0

0

3

3

AHS 104

Introduction to Health Care

2

0

3

5

3

 

Totals:

18

0

3

21

19

Second Quarter

Course Code

Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

DEN 105

Microbiology and Infection Control

2

2

0

4

3

DEN 102

Head and Neck Anatomy

2

0

0

2

2

DEN 134

Dental Assisting I

4

6

0

10

7

SCT 100

Introduction to Micro Computers

1

4

0

5

3

PSY 101

Basic Psychology

5

0

0

5

5

 

Totals:

14

12

0

26

20

 

Third Quarter

Course Code

Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

DEN 103

Preventative Dentistry

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 135

Dental Assisting II

4

6

0

10

7

DEN 139

Dental Radiology

4

2

0

6

5

DEN 146

Dental Practicum I

0

6

0

6

2

 

Totals:

11

17

0

27

18

 

Fourth Quarter

Course Code

Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

DEN 107

Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

 

4

0

0

4

4

DEN 136

Dental Assisting III

 

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 137

Dental Assisting-Expanded Functions

3

2

0

5

4

DEN 140

Dental Practice Management

 

4

2

0

6

5

DEN 147

Dental Practicum II

0

6

0

6

2

 

Totals:

14

12

0

26

19

 

Fifth Quarter                                                                                                             

Course Code

Course Name

Class Hours

D.
Lab Hours

P.
Lab/

OBI Hours

Weekly Contact Hours

Credit Hours

DEN 109

Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

3

0

0

3

3

DEN 138

Scopes of Professional Practice

2

0

0

3

2

DEN 148

Dental Practicum III

 

0

24

0

24

8

 

Totals:

6

24

0

30

13

 

APPENDIX C

Dental Assisting, Diploma

 

Suggested Equipment List

 

Amalgamator

Articulator

Autoclave

Blood Pressure Unit

Bunsen Burner/Torches

Calculator

Compressor

Computer Stations

Conventional Dental Units

Curing Light

Dental Assistant Stool

Dental Chair

Dental Dam Set-up

Digital Radiography Unit

Endodontic Instruments

Face-Bow Set-up

Glass Slabs

Hand Cutting Instruments

High Speed Dental Handpieces

Impression Trays

Individual Laboratory Handpieces

Instrument Trays

Intra-oral Radiography Unit

Laboratory Burs

Laboratory Knives

Laboratory Lathe

Laboratory Spatulas

Laboratory Trays

Low Speed Dental Handpieces

Manikins

Matrix Retainers

Mobile Intraoral Camera Unit

Model Trimmer

Nitrous Oxide Unit

Operating Light

Operating Unit

Operator Stool

Orthodontic Instruments

Oxygen Unit

Panoramic/Cephalometric Unit

Pedodontic Instruments

Periodontic Instruments

Plaster Traps

Plaster/Stone Bin

Practice Management Software

Printer

Pulp Tester

Radiographic Manikins

Rotary Cutting Instruments

Rubber Bowls

Rubber Impression Base Forms

Rubber Impression Molds

Scales

Spore Testing Unit

Statim

Storage Tubs

Surgical Instruments

Syringe

Triad Unit

Ultrasonic Cleaner

Vacuum Former Unit

Vacuum Pump

Ventilation System

Vibrator

Water Distiller

X-Ray Duplicating Unit

X-Ray Processing Equipment

X-Ray View Box

 

Posted.08/05/03