Career Description

Given the increasing demands for dental care, dental practices are designed for a dental team approved for the delivery of dental care. An exciting and challenging career awaits you as a professional dental assistant. This program will prepare students for a wide range of dental assisting careers, including chairside dental assistant in general or specialty practices, expanded-functions dental assistant, administrative business assistant, dental sales personnel, sterilization assistant, and dental insurance personnel. A career in dental assisting offers variety, job satisfaction, opportunity for service, and financial reward.

Program Information

The Dental Assisting Program is designed to educate students on ways to control and prevent dental disease, as well as teach patients preventive dental care. Training is provided in chairside skills and MN State expanded functions. Fall and spring semesters are on-campus, and the nine-week summer session provides internships in dental facilities and private dental practices. This education prepares students to take national and state written examinations required for certification and registration as dental assistants. A certified registered dental assistant becomes a member of the dental team.

Program Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• Perform chair side procedures in a clinical setting;
• Apply infection control, biohazards and treatment area practices;
• Perform dental office procedures;
• Perform radiographic and radiation safety procedures;
• Communicate professionally with patients, peers, and members of the dental health team; and
• Model professionalism through continuing education and membership in the American Dental Assistants Association.

Special Program Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must meet the following conditions in order to graduate:

1. College Cumulative GPA Requirement: cumulative grade point average (GPA) of credits attempted and completed at CLC must be at least 2.0;
2. College Technical Core GPA Requirement: cumulative GPA of credits attempted and completed towards the technical core of the diploma or degree must be at least 2.0;
3. Residency Requirement: students must complete 25% of their credits at Central Lakes College.
4. 8 hours of dental clinical observation must be completed by October 1st.
5. Students who apply for the Dental Assisting Program who meet requirements for Admission will be accepted into the Dental Assisting Diploma for their first year with the option of pursuing their Associates in Applied Science (AAS) their second year.

Accreditation

The CLC Dental Assisting program has been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) since 1967. The most recent reauthorization visit was conducted in Fall of 2019.

Admissions

• Reading placement test is required. Admission date is fall semester, and progression through the program is sequential. Per the Commission on Dental Accreditation, students must possess a High School Diploma or GED prior to the fall semester start of the Dental Assisting Program.
• The curriculum in the dental assisting program may expose students to hazardous materials, radiation and/or infectious diseases. Students will be provided with information through education and program policies to protect themselves and their patients from harm. Students will be expected to utilize appropriate safety precautions in the classroom, laboratory and clinic. Program policies are available upon request.
• All applications to the Minnesota Board of Dentistry for initial license will require a criminal background check.

Employment Statistics

For more information regarding employment statistics, career salary information and estimated job growth, follow the resource links below:

https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/ces/
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
http://www.iseek.org/jobs/jobmarket.html

Program Course Requirements

Fall Semester (20 credits)
DENT 1106 Dental Orientation and Anatomy, 3 cr
DENT 1116 Dental Clinic I, 8 cr
DENT 1118 Dental Radiology I, 3 cr
DENT 1120 Preventive Dentistry, 2 cr
DENT 1124 Biomaterials, 3 cr
EMTS 1130 AHA Healthcare Provider CPR, 1 cr

Spring Semester (18 credits)
DENT 1114 Pathology, Pharmacology, and Law, 3 cr
DENT 1123* Dental Clinic II, 9 cr
DENT 1129* Dental Radiology II, 2 cr
DENT 1132* Dental Specialties, 2 cr
DENT 1133* Principles of Practice Management and Communication, 2 cr

Summer Session (7 credits)
DENT 1150* Dental Internship (336 Hours), 7 cr

Second Year – Fall Semester (15 credits)
ENGL 1422 Practical Writing, 3 cr OR ENGL 1410 Composition I or ENGL 1421 Honors Composition I, 4 cr.

Select 12 additional credits from Goals 2-10. For students planning to pursue Dental Hygiene, we suggest you choose courses that will meet prerequisite requirements for Dental Hygiene. See an advisor for assistance choosing courses for your targeted program/college. Typical Dental Hygiene course prerequisites may include:
BIOL 2457 Microbiology
BIOL 2467 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2468 Anatomy and Physiology II
COMM 1420 Interpersonal Communication
PSYC 2421 General Psychology
SOCL 1401 Intro to Sociology
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses, 12 cr

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT – 60 CREDITS
*Denotes Prerequisites

Program Instructors

Photo	First Name	Last Name	Position	Department	Phone	Email	Alt. Phone:	URL	wdt_ID
	Aubrey	Beadell	Advisor	TRIO Student Support Services	218-855-8014	aubrey.beadell@clcmn.edu			1
	Nick	O'Reilly	Occupational Skills Program College Lab Assistant	OccupationalSkills	218-855-8077	Nicholas.oreilly@clcmn.edu			2
	Kevin	Lomax	College Lab Assistant	Automotive Faculty	218-855-8000	KLomax@clcmn.edu			3
	Mallori	Sheik	Director of Accessibility Services	Accessibility	218-855-8175	mallori.sheik@clcmn.edu			4
	Jody	Flynn	Accessibility Services Assistant	Accessibility	218-855-8056	jody.flynn@clcmn.edu			5
	Missy	Tureson	Box Office Assistant	Theatre	218-855-8199	mtureson@clcmn.edu			6
	Deana	Bobzien	Instructor	Faculty Mathematics Supportive Services	218-855-8339	deana.bobzien@clcmn.edu			7
	Brianna	Rajkowski	Advisor	TRIO Student Support Services	218-855-8228	brianna.rajkowski@clcmn.edu			8
	Cynthia	Dionysius	AD Nursing Faculty	NursingASDegree	218-855-8133	cindy.dionysius@clcmn.edu			9
	Tajia	Anderson	PSEO Specialist	Admissions - CollegeCreditInHighSchool- PSEO	218-855-8079	tajia.anderson@clcmn.edu			10
	Tracy	Tschida	Instructor	Faculty Psychology	2188-855-8328	tracy.tschida@clcmn.edu			11
	Mike	Fitcher	Adjunct Instructor	MachineTool	218-855-8000	michael.fitcher@clcmn.edu			12
	Brent	Balmer	Videography CLA	Videography	218-855-8727	brent.balmer@clcmn.edu			13
	David	Gray	instructor	HistoryTransferPathway - History	218-855-8276	david.gray@clcmn.edu			14
	Jim	Nagy	Adjunct Instructor	GraphicDesign	218-855-8157	james.nagy@clcmn.edu			15
	Brandon	Schneider	Instructor	HeavyEquipment	218-894-5179	brandon.schneider@clcmn.edu			16
	Jim	Kocherer	Instructor	FarmBusinessManagement	763-218-7030	jim.kocherer@clcmn.edu		https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/ShowForm.aspx?RequestedDynamicFormTemplate=0938e712-0d6d-4332-aba3-158670c49513	17
	Natalia	DePauw	Director of Dual Enrollment	Advising - PSEO - CollegeCreditInHighSchool	218-855-8263	natalia.depauw@clcmn.edu			18
	Teresa	Schmitz	Assistant Director of HR	Human Resources	218-855-8050	teresa.schmitz@clcmn.edu			19
	Amy	Disterhaupt	Admissions Specialist	Admissions	218-855-8250	amy.disterhaupt@clcmn.edu			20
	Nick	Heisserer	Instructor	BusinessInstructor - BusinessTransfer	218-855-8089	nick.heisserer@clcmn.edu		https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/CentralLakesCollege6@MinnState.edu/bookings/	21
	Matthew	Krueger	Environmental Health and Safety Officer	Maintenance	218-855-8115	matthew.krueger@clcmn.edu			22
	Mark	Lindquist	Instructor	Music	218-855-8236	mark.lindquist@clcmn.edu			23
	Joy	Larson	Emergency Management and Security Coordinator	Security	218-855-8143	joy.larson@clcmn.edu			24
	Jeremy	Goddard	Bookstore/Print Shop	Bookstore Supportive Services	218-855-8146	Jeremy.Goddard@clcmn.edu			25

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