Dec 13, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog

Dental Assisting Certificate


Academic Program Code:  392

Few careers offer the diversity and flexibility that dental assisting does. There are opportunities for part-time and full-time employment as chair side, office, and laboratory work assistants. Most dental assistants work in private dental offices. Others, however, may work in dental schools, hospital dental departments, public health departments, dental laboratories, or public and private dental clinics. There are also opportunities to work in the offices of dental specialists such as pediatric dentists and orthodontists. Registered dental assistants are often in short supply, making GRCC graduates highly employable.

The program prepares students for the nationally recognized credential, Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). In addition, students are prepared to take the Michigan Registered Dental Assistant exam that leads to the preferred RDA credential in Michigan. 

Students can enroll in the program using one of two methods. Option A is for a student without a CDA credential. Option B is for a student with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant who has passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and holds a current CDA credential. These students will receive college credit for the CDA credential and be granted advanced standing in the dental assisting program. 

Students in this program learn through a three-way combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences. 

ADMISSION CRITERIA

 OPTION A - students without a current Certified Dental Assistant credential.

Fall semester, twenty-four students are admitted to the program.

In order to be eligible for admission into the Dental Assisting Program, students must:

  1. Be admitted to Grand Rapids Community College.
  2. Have documentation of high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development) Test.
  3. Have a high school and college GPA of at least 2.3.
  4. Must demonstrate math, reading and writing competency all must be within the last five years.  Dependent on demonstrated competencies, a reduce timeframe may apply (for specific details/scores visit the Dental Admission Requirements).
  5. Complete a preliminary criminal background check form and pass the background check.
  6. Be 18 years of age when they begin the program.

OPTION B - (Advanced Standing) students with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant and also hold a current CDA credential (passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) will receive college credit for this credential and be granted advanced standing in the dental assisting program.

Fall semester, twelve students are accepted in Option B.

  1. Be admitted to Grand Rapids Community College.
  2. Pass all three sections of the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB) and provide current documentation from DANB.
  3. Contact the Dental Auxiliary Program Director at 616-234-4240. 
  4. Present current CPR card at the Health Care Provider Level through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Other vendors and online certification are not acceptable.
  5. Be employed in a dental office as a dental assistant. Students will complete clinical process evaluations and competencies under the supervision of their licensed dentist employer.
  6. Attend mandatory orientation sessions at the beginning of the semester in which the student starts.  
  7. Complete Option B Student Application Packet.

The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is http://ada.org/100aspx.

Program Courses


Total Credit Hours


44

Program Note


Students who have earned credit for BI 117  or BI 121  or BI 122  could use one of these courses to meet the DAA 112  requirement.  Please contact the Program Director for more information.

In What Order Should I Take Classes?


In What Order Should I Take Classes?

Please select courses from the Priority I list.  Select courses based on the number of credits you are taking in the semester, for example, if you are a part time student you do not have to take all of the courses listed.  If you are unable to schedule Priority I courses, move to and select from the list of Priority II, Priority III, and Priority IV course

Priority I Priority II

DXX 115 - Introduction to Dentistry  

DAA 112 - Science for the Dental Assistant  

DAA 114 - Nutrition and Oral Disease Prevention  

DAA 120 - Dental, and Oral Anatomy, Histology and Embryology  

DAA 121 - Oral Pathology for Dental Assisting  

DAA 129 - Business Management of the Dental Practice  

Priority III Priority IV

DXX 104 - Infection Control in Dentistry  

DXX 128 - Dental Radiography  (A)

DAA 116 - Assisting in General Dentistry  

DAA 118 - Dental Biomaterials  

DXX 128 - Dental Radiography  (B)

DAA 122 - Applied Principles of Dental Assisting I Practicum  

DAA 123 - Applied Principles of Dental Assisting I Lecture  

DAA 131 - Registered Dental Assisting Functions  

DAA 132 - Registered Dental Assisting Functions Clinical  

DAA 133 - Practicum Theory for Registered Dental Assisting Functions  

Summer  

DAA 138 - Applied Principles of Dental Assisting II Practicum  

DAA 139 - Principles of Dental Assisting II Lecture  

 

NOTE: This priority schedule assumes the student is prepared to take the courses listed. If prerequisites are required, additional semesters may be required to complete this degree.

Meet with an Academic Program Advisor and consult my Academic Progress for specific degree requirements.

Essential Abilities/Technical Standards


The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. sec. 794) prohibits discrimination of persons because of her or his disability. In keeping with these laws, colleges of the Wisconsin Technical College System make every effort to insure a quality education for students. The purpose of this document is to ensure that students acknowledge that they have been provided information on the functional abilities required of a student in the Dental Assistant/Dental Hygiene Programs.

The Grand Rapids Community College Dental Auxiliary Programs complies with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and consistent with the ADA, the attached Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards Worksheet provides the framework to relate functional ability categories and representative activities/attributes to any limitations/deficits in functional abilities. These standards shall be used by the Grand Rapids Community College Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs in combination with the professional scope of practice, job analysis, other resources, and expert consultation to make decisions related to the ability of the student to perform the essential functions.

If a prospective student is or becomes unable to meet the required “Functional Abilities/Technical Standards,” the Grand Rapids Community College Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs, in consultation with  College’s Disabilities Support Services Director and the Dental Auxiliary Program Director will determine, on an individual basis, whether or not reasonable accommodations can be made that would permit the student to meet these “Functional Abilities/Technical Standards” and thus, to continue in the program.

Please note: “Skill’s tied to” under each of the sections is not intended to be a complete listing of skills but rather as an example of a skill for which that ability. For more complete listing of skills, tied to that ability, please see the program coordinator.

1.  Gross motor ability

Move within confined spaces, eye-hand-foot coordination, and stoop/squat down and maintain balance, stand and maintain balance, reach above shoulders, reach below waist, reach out horizontally

2.  Fine motor ability

Pick up objects with hands, simultaneous use of hand, wrist and fingers, finger dexterity, grasp small objects with fingers firmly/lightly, utilize repetitive pinching motions with fingers, eye-hand coordination, grasp small objects with hands, write clearly and neatly with pen or pencil, type on a keyboard, enter data using a key pad, pinch/squeeze or pick up objects with fingers, twist knobs with hands, must have adequate manual dexterity as to be capable of maintaining sterility

3.  Physical Endurance

Stand at client’s side during procedure, Sustain repetitive movements (example: chest compressions in CPR) maintain physical tolerance (continue tasks throughout a 10-12 hour shift), work and complete tasks at a reasonable pace, sit for long periods of time, stand for long periods of time, bend and twist without effort, sustain repetitive, movements, use upper body strength (e.g., perform CPR), squeeze with hands (e.g., manipulating impression materials)

4.  Physical Strength

Lift 25 pounds, carry equipment/supplies, squeeze with hands (example: dental instruments), use upper body strength

5.  Mobility

Are you able to perform the following? twist, bend, stoop/squat, move quickly, climb ladders/stools/stairs, walk

6.  Hearing

Hear normal speaking level sounds, hear faint voices, hear faint body sounds (example: breath and heart sounds) hear auditory alarms, hear telephones

7.  Visual

Visually assess clients, see object up to 20 inches away See object more than 20 feet away Use peripheral vision distinguish color, distinguish color intensity, and see emergency lights/lamps

8.  Tactile

Feel vibrations, detect differences in surface characteristics, and detect differences in sizes and shapes of instruments

9.  Smell

Detect odors from client, detect smoke, and detect gas or noxious smells

10.  Reading

Read and interpret textbooks, read and interpret dental records, read and understand written documents,  read very fine or small print

11.  Arithmetic

Read and understand columns of writing (example: flow sheets), read digital displays, read graphic printouts, calibrate equipment, convert numbers to metric, read graphs (sleep reports), tell time, measure time (duration), use measuring tools (example: tape measure) read measurement marks (scales), able to perform basic arithmetic functions: add, subtract, multiply, divide Compute percentages, use a calculator, record numbers (example: chart observed parameters)

12.  Emotional Stability

Establish therapeutic boundaries, provide client with appropriate emotional support.  Adapt to changing environment/stress, deal with the unexpected (example: crisis), focus attention on task despite distractions.  Monitor own emotions, perform multiple responsibilities concurrently, handle strong emotions (example: grief), how appropriate compassion through communication

13.  Analytical Thinking

Transfer/extrapolate knowledge from one situation to process information, evaluate outcomes, problem solve, prioritize tasks, use long and short term memory

14.  Critical Thinking Skills

Identify cause-effect relationships, plan/control activities for others, and synthesize knowledge and skills, sequence information

15.  Interpersonal skills

Negotiate interpersonal conflict appropriately, respect differences in clients, establish rapport with clients, establish rapport with co-workers, and work effectively with physicians, staff, clients and clients’ families

16.  Communication Skills

Teach (example: client and family), explain procedure, give oral reports, I=interact with others, speak on the telephone, Direct activities of others, convey information through writing (example: progress notes), speak clearly and distinctly

17.  Environment

Tolerate toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to radiation, exposure to excessive noises, exposure to vibration, exposure to flame, exposure to nitrous oxide