• INTRO
• PROGRAM OVERVIEW
• CAREER OUTLOOK
• COMMON JOB TITLES

 

Degree Earned:
Occupational Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting

Available campuses for this program:
Hattiesburg, Jackson

Introduction

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They work chair side as dentists examine and treat patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain their dental records. Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients’ mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. Assistants also sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare trays of instruments for dental procedures, and instruct patients on postoperative and general oral health care.

 

 

Program Overview

The Associate Degree of Applied Science in Dental Assisting will prepare students to work in the dental assisting field. From general dentistry, endodontics, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics many opportunities are available to a dental assistant. Administrative training will enable students to work in administrative offices as well as clinical settings. An internship along with more advanced computer classes will enable degree students to enter the workforce with advanced clinical and clerical skills in the dental field. Successful graduates will be prepared to fill any entry-level Dental Assisting position.

Career Outlook

Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. The US Bureau of Labor statistics expects employment to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the 2004-14 projection period.

The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. Although state regulations vary, some specific tasks dental assistants may perform include:

• assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures;
• taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays);
• asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse;
• serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment;
• helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment;
• providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling);
• teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling);
• taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth);
• performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer;
  communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies); and
• assisting with and helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and oral surgery.