Health Sciences  

Expanded Duty Dental Assisting

The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program includes instruction in restorative dentistry and preventive oral care, including teaching clients oral self-care, applying sealants to the grooves of clients' teeth, taking impressions of teeth, producing diagnostically acceptable intraoral radiographs (x-rays), polishing teeth and fillings, assisting the dentist, preparing the filling materials, scheduling clients and managing health information and monitoring nitrous oxide.

Employment opportunities in South Carolina include private practice positions such as chair-side dental assistants, treatment coordinators, OSHA compliance specialists, dental laboratory assistants, secretarial assistants and office managers.  There are also opportunities in public health settings, hospital dental practices, prison dental clinics and insurance companies.

Related careers include dental product sales representative, infection control consultant for private dental office, dental office business manager and dental assisting education.

Special Requirements

Students must receive a grade of "C" or better on all Expanded Duty Dental Assisting courses and all math, science courses.  Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in each clinical course to continue in the program the following semester.  Additionally, they must pass a final comprehensive exit examination to graduate from the program.  Students may not repeat an Expanded Duty Dental Assisting course more than once, nor may they progress to the next semester until that course is passed.  Students may repeat only two Expanded Duty Dental Assisting courses.

Students are required to purchase and maintain a set of x-ray instruments, dental instruments, dentoforms, laboratory coats, standard uniforms (to include gloves and masks), shoes, name pin and safety glasses at an approximate cost of $1200.

Students are encouraged to join the Student American Dental Assistants' Association and to participate in its scheduled activities, including attendance at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Dental Assistants' Association.  In addition, they are required to participate in scheduled activities, such as visits to elementary schools for dental health educational presentations, and to take three national examinations (ICE, RHS, GC).

Students will rotate through private dental offices and clinics in the immediate area for practical experience in Expanded Duty Dental Assisting.

In addition to the college's placement test and the specific admissions requirements for the Health Sciences department, specific admission criteria to the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program include:

• Acceptable admission criteria:

  • MTC ASSET:  reading 45, mathematics 40, algebra 36 and writing sample score of 30; or

  • COMPASS:  reading 88, pre-algebra 44 and writing sample score of 30; or

  • HOBET 50 composite percent (minimum reading 50 percent, mathematics 50 percent) and MTC writing sample score of 30; or

  • SAT 840 (minimum verbal 400) and writing sample score of 30; or

  • ACT  18 (minimum verbal 17) and writing sample score of 30; or

  • Successful completion of the Pre-Health Care certificate with a 2.5 GPA and "C" or higher in each course.  (after completion of ENG 100, RDG 100, MAT 100 with a 2.5 GPA.  A student may request the Program Director to waive the remainder of the Pre-Health Care Certificate.)

• High school diploma or equivalent

• High school or college credits in mathematics/science (mathematics, algebra, biology), computing and keyboarding are recommended

• Program interview

This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.  Graduates are recognized as Expanded Duty Dental Assistants (EDDA) by the SC State Board of Dentistry.  Graduates are eligible to be credentialed as Certified Dental Assistants upon satisfactory completion of the three examinations administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.