2024-2025 Catalog

Dental Assisting (DA12) Diploma

Campus Availability and Advisement:

 

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, a certificate in Dental Radiology, a certificate as an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA), and are eligible to sit for The Dental Assisting National Board to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).

The Dental Assisting program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), American Dental Association (www.ada.org).

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Telephone: 312-440-4653

Entrance Dates:

Fall Semester.

Students must complete all pre-occupational courses by the end of spring semester to enter in the fall semester.

Entrance Requirements:

Age: 17 years old for entrance into Health Technology pre-occupational curriculum
18 years old for entrance into Health Technology programs

Other:

  1. During your last semester of pre-occupational courses, see your advisor to apply for competitive entry
  2. Take the Psychological Services Bureau, Inc. (PSB) entrance exam
  3. GPA and PSB scores are calculated, accepted students will receive notification of mandatory orientation
  4. Background check and Drug Screening are required through PSI

    Attending Mandatory Orientation

  5. Documentation of ability to comply with health-related standards and meet minimum essential skill requirements and immunization records will be required
  6. Payment of fees for liability insurance
  7. Documentation of current Healthcare Provider CPR certification
  8. Students interested in taking part in the dental assisting program need to review the policies on bloodborne and infectious diseases and radiation exposure found in the Dental Assisting Program Manual. Click here to download the manual.

Program graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board.

Pre-Occupational Curriculum (13 Credit Hours Minimum)

PSYC 1010Basic Psychology

3

MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics

3

 

ENGL 1005Applied Technical Communication

3

OR

ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I

3

 

ALHS 1011Structure and Function of the Human Body

5

OR

DENA 1010Basic Human Biology

1

 

ALHS 1040Introduction to Health Care

3

OR

COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3

OR

MAST 1060Medical Office Procedures

4

OR

XXXX xxxxElective

3

Occupational Curriculum (37 Credit Hours)

DENA 1050Microbiology and Infection Control

3

DENA 1030Preventive Dentistry

1

DENA 1080Dental Anatomy

4

DENA 1340Dental Assisting I: General Chairside

6

DENA 1070Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

2

DENA 1350Dental Assisting II: Dental Specialties and EFDA Skills

7

DENA 1390Dental Radiology

4

DENA 1090Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

1

DENA 1400Dental Practice Management

2

DENA 1460Dental Practicum I

1

DENA 1470Dental Practicum II

1

DENA 1480Dental Practicum III

5

Total Credit Hours: 50 Minimum Credit Hours for Graduation