Students in the dental assisting program learn how to manage dental patients from the moment they arrive in the office. This includes learning about detailing dental histories, checking the patients' vital signs, cleaning and polishing teeth and making dental casts. Post-operative care is also studied as well as educating patients on proper dental procedures.
The dental assisting program is 1,530 hours total and can usually be completed in 12-14 months. The program consists of a 300-hour unpaid externship at two different dental locations as well as classwork in the areas of computers, dental terminology, clinical procedures, administrative procedures, math, psychology, workplace relations and job-seeking skills.
Admission is open to high school graduates who are at least 18 years of age. A criminal background check is required of all applicants. The application for admissions is available online and includes a $40 application fee.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. In order to apply for financial aid the following is needed: previous year's tax form and W-2, information on child support, workers compensation, or disability income, if applicable. The DATC school code for financial aid is 015195, which will be needed when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Additional information may be required on a per-person basis.