Overview
Become a dental team member in restorative and specialty dental practices by completing this academic diploma program. Once students complete the coursework, they're required to take the DANB exams as part of the program.
The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program includes instruction in restorative dentistry and preventive oral care, including:
- teaching patients oral self-care,
- applying sealants to the grooves of patients’ teeth,
- taking impressions of teeth,
- producing diagnostically acceptable dental radiographs (X-rays),
- polishing teeth and fillings,
- assisting the dentist,
- preparing the filling materials,
- scheduling patients,
- and managing health information and monitoring nitrous oxide.
The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Commission on Dental Accreditation
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 440-4653
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 (CDA) upon satisfactory completion of the three examinations administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.
Learning experiences for students in the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting Diploma Program are provided in classrooms and laboratories on the Airport Campus in the Academic Center. Student preclinical and clinical experience is provided in a state-of-the-art dental clinic on the third floor of the Academic Center. Additional required clinical externships are arranged through affiliations with local dentists and dental facilities.
- Admission Criteria
-
- Successful program interview
- acceptable criminal background check and drug screening results
- high school diploma or equivalent
- Special Requirements
-
Students must receive a grade of “C” or better on all Expanded Duty Dental Assisting courses, math, and science courses. Math and science courses must be completed according to the timeframe established for Health Science Programs. 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 Expanded Duty Dental Assisting courses 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, dento- forms, laboratory coats, standard uniforms (to include gloves and masks), shoes, name pin, and safety glasses at an approximate cost of $2,000.
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 MTC service area for practical experience in Expanded Duty Dental Assisting. Students will be required to comply with regulations required by off-campus clinical sites, which might include fingerprinting, background checks, and drug screenings. In addition to the college’s placement test and the specific admissions requirements for the Health Sciences department, specific interview eligibility criteria for the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program include:
How to Enroll
To pursue this degree, you must apply to MTC using our online application.
Sample Program Plan and Costs
Class Delivery Methods
View current courses offered via our online course directory.
| On-Campus | Traditional. Classes meet on campus. |
|---|---|
| Virtual | 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom. |
| Hybrid | Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual. |
| Online | 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time. |
Full Time
| Semester | Course ID | Course Title | Classroom | Online | Hybrid | Virtual | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 (13 Credit Hours) |
COL-106 |
Skills for College Success Skills for College Success ID: COL-106 Credit Hours: 1 This course is designed to enhance the skills of entering freshmen to facilitate their ability to succeed in the college environment. The course topics include student/instructor expectations, time management, library/computer orientation, listening/note-taking, studying for success, learning styles/personality types, and diversity and differences on campus. |
• | • | 1 | ||
| ENG-160 |
Technical Communications Technical Communications ID: ENG-160 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of various technical communications such as definitions, processes, instructions, descriptions, and technical reports. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| MAT-155 |
Contemporary Mathematics Contemporary Mathematics ID: MAT-155 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| BIO-110 |
General Anatomy and Physiology General Anatomy and Physiology ID: BIO-110 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a general introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Emphasis is on the organ systems of the human and their interrelationships. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
| PSY-201 |
General Psychology General Psychology ID: PSY-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes the following topics and concepts in the science of behavior: scientific method, biological bases for behavior, perception, motivation, learning memory, development, personality, abnormal behavior, therapeutic techniques, and social psychology. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| Semester 2 (13 Credit Hours) |
DAT-113 |
Dental Materials Dental Materials ID: DAT-113 Credit Hours: 4 This course is a study of physical and chemical properties of matter and identification, characteristics, and manipulation of dental materials. |
• | 4 | |||
| DAT-154 |
Clinical Procedures I Clinical Procedures I ID: DAT-154 Credit Hours: 4 This course includes preparation to assist a dentist efficiently in four-handed dentistry. Emphasis is on the names and functions of all dental instruments, the principles involved in their use, and the assistants' role in dental instrumentation. |
• | 4 | ||||
| DAT-118 |
Dental Morphology Dental Morphology ID: DAT-118 Credit Hours: 2 This course emphasizes the development, eruption, and individual characteristics of each tooth and surrounding structures. This course also covers the embryology and histology of the head and neck. |
• | 2 | ||||
| DAT-115 |
Ethics and Professionalism Ethics and Professionalism ID: DAT-115 Credit Hours: 1 This course introduces a cursory history of dental assisting, professional associations, scope of service in dentistry, and ethical, legal and professional considerations. The state dental practice act is reviewed. |
• | 1 | ||||
| DAT-122 |
Dental Office Management Dental Office Management ID: DAT-122 Credit Hours: 2 This course provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office. It includes exposure to dental practice management software. |
• | • | 2 | |||
| Semester 3 (16 Credit Hours) |
DAT-127 |
Dental Radiography Dental Radiography ID: DAT-127 Credit Hours: 4 This course provides the fundamental background and theory for the safe and effective use of x-radiation in dentistry. It encompasses the history of x-rays, production and uses of radiation, radiographic film, exposure factors, interpretation of radiographs and radiation hygiene. |
• | 4 | |||
| DAT-123 |
Oral Medicine/Oral Biology Oral Medicine/Oral Biology ID: DAT-123 Credit Hours: 3 This course presents a basic study of oral pathology, pharmacology, nutrition, and common emergencies as related to the role of the dental assistant. |
• | 3 | ||||
| DAT-121 |
Dental Health Education Dental Health Education ID: DAT-121 Credit Hours: 2 This course defines the responsibilities of the dental assistant in individual and community dental health education with emphasis on the etiology of dental disease, methods for prevention, and principles of nutrition in relationship to oral health and preventive dentistry. |
• | 2 | ||||
| DAT-174 |
Office Rotations Office Rotations ID: DAT-174 Credit Hours: 4 This is an introductory course to a general office with emphasis placed on chairside assisting and office management. |
• | 4 | ||||
| DAT-183 |
Specialty Functions Specialty Functions ID: DAT-183 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to dental specialties, the refinement, the roles served by assistants in the dental specialties, and the expanded legal functions for qualified assistants. |
• | 3 | ||||
| Semester 4 (7 Credit Hours) |
DAT-177 |
Dental Office Experience Dental Office Experience ID: DAT-177 Credit Hours: 7 This course consists of practice in the dental office or clinic with rotation of assignments to encompass experiences in office management and clinical experience in all areas of dentistry. |
• | • | 7 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 49 | ||||||
| Estimated Cost Financial Aid |
$8,722.00 Not including fees and equipment |
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