The Dental Assistant Program is designed to provide an opportunity for students to acquire background knowledge and develop specialized skills for gaining employment in the dental profession. Specific training is provided to prepare the student for a variety of duties performed by the dental assistant including chair-side assisting, infection control procedures, preparing instruments and materials, laboratory procedures, administrative duties and expanded functions such as mechanical polishing and application of sealants. This learning is accomplished through on-campus classroom, laboratory and clinical experience as well as an internship in dental offices. The dental assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Graduates will be eligible to write the Dental Assisting National Board Certification examination and the Minnesota Licensure examination.
The need for Dental Assistants is due to the success of preventive dentistry, increased awareness of the importance of regular dental care and cosmetic dentistry. Work schedules are often flexible and include full-time and part-time opportunities in a variety of settings including general dental practices, public health clinics, insurance companies, dental education facilities, and specialty practices such as orthodontics and oral surgery.

Process

Additional Program Information is available from this webpage on the left-hand side including the Admissions Process for the programs, Program Faculty Information, and other important program related information.  Please review all of the program information on the Program Admissions link.  This is a professional education program and you will be expected to display personal responsibility and understanding of the requirements of the program and profession.  If you still have additional questions, please attend an information meeting and learn more about applying to the program and what types of jobs this education can lead towards.

Informational Meeting

All students interested in the Dental Assistant program must sign up for an informational meeting. The meetings will be held approximately 4 times during the school year and offers those interested in the program a chance to meet faculty, tour the SCTCC dental clinic and receive all the information needed to be considered for the program. This is where the program application will be handed out. This application is in addition to the SCTCC college application. Meeting dates can be found in our calendar listing here.