Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing health care professions – Dental Assisting. With the national increase in health care-related services, and the national shortage of health care professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the health care technician field.

This online program is taught by Condensed Curriculum International, an educational partner working with the University of Arkansas. The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting and the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice.

Course Outcomes

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Describe the process for gathering and assessing patient health information
• Explain the foundations of and procedures used in clinical dentistry
• Summarize the use of radiology in dentistry and issues associated with it
• Describe the primary materials, instruments, and equipment used in dentistry including basic care and maintenance of instruments
• Outline how dental assistants assist with various dental procedures and types of dentistry
• Summarize the essential administrative and communication skills required of dental assistants
• Explain the anatomy, physiology, and pathology concepts associated with dentistry
• Explain infection control, safety, and emergency procedures and regulations in the dental environment
• Explain pediatric and orthodontic procedures and tools

Certification

• After completing this program, learners will have the option to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

  	Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)
  	National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Dental Assistant Clinical Certification (DACC)

Dental Assistant is a not a regulated profession in Arkansas. This course is intended for professional development and is not designed to meet educational requirements for other state-specific professional licensures or certifications. Dental assisting regulations in the US are not uniform and vary significantly by state. If you are outside the state of Arkansas, please consult with your state’s medical professions regulating agency.

Always check with your state's regulatory agency or board for the most current and specific information.

Prior Learning

This professional skills training course is beginner-friendly, with no prior expertise required. However, to ensure success, students should:

• Be comfortable reading and understanding English, as all materials are provided in English.
• Have basic computer skills, including navigating the internet, downloading/uploading files, installing software, and using applications like Microsoft Word.

These foundational skills will help you engage fully with our primarily online courses.

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. As students progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.