Dental Assistant Certificate I

Program Description

The Dental Assistant Certificate I program prepares the student for an entry-level position as a dental assistant. The curriculum provides opportunities to develop knowledge and skills through classroom instruction and hands-on lab activities. General Education and Program Elective requirements are designed for the student who opts to transfer into a dental hygiene program.

Dental assistants perform a variety of office management, patient care, and laboratory duties, and often work chair-side as dentists examine and treat patients. In addition, the dental assistant maintains patient records, promotes comfort and safety in the dental chair, obtains oral x-rays, sterilizes instruments, and instructs patients on proper dental health.

The successful dental assistant must have strong communication skills, display a positive attitude, observe strict confidentiality, and possess motor skill coordination necessary for safe patient care.

General Education Requirements

Writing Level I (WR1)/ORAL (in program)
MATH/APPM (in program)
UNST 1 credits

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

CO/M 1010Public Speaking

3 credits

OR

CO/M 1030Interpersonal Communication

3 credits

 

DNTA 1500Orientation to Dental Assisting

1 credits

DNTA 1810Dental Assisting Fundamentals

5 credits

DNTA 1910Dental Radiography

3 credits

DNTA 2520Dental Office Procedures

1 credits

DNTA 2820Dental Therapeutics & Emergency Managemt

3 credits

ENGL 1010English Composition I

3 credits

HLED 1245Basic Life Support Certification

0.5 credits

 

MATH 1000Problem Solving

3 credits

OR

MATH 1400College Algebra

4 credits

Program Electives

Student must choose a minimum of seven (7) credits from the following courses:

ANTH 1200Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

3 credits

OR

SOC 1000Sociological Principles

3 credits

 

CHEM 1000Introduction to Chemistry

4 credits

OR

CHEM 1020General Chemistry I

4 credits

 

ENGL 2005Technical Writing

3 credits

FCSC 1140Nutrition

2 credits

MOLB 2210General Microbiology

4 credits

POLS 1000American & Wyoming Government

3 credits

PSYC 1000General Psychology

4 credits

ZOO 2015Human Anatomy

4 credits

ZOO 2025Human Physiology

4 credits

Total Credit Hours: 30.5-31.5