Dental Assisting (with Certificate Option) (AAS-DAT)

Program Location:  Bay Minette Campus

Nursing and Allied Health Division

Length: Five Semesters (A.A.S. Degree); Three Semesters (Certificate)

This program prepares individuals to assist with the care of dental patients under direct supervision of a dentist. Dental assistants help with the provision of patient care, business office administration and laboratory procedures. Dental assistants hold a vital role in the dental healthcare team. Responsibilities include recording patient’s dental and health history, taking and recording vital signs, patient reassurance, treatment and instrument preparation, mixing and transferring dental materials, processing and sterilizing instruments, maintaining infection control, maintaining inventory control, exposing and processing radiographs, dental equipment maintenance, and providing patients pre-op, post-op, and oral hygiene instructions.

Students are required to take the Dental Assisting National Board Infection Control Exam, the Radiation Health and Safety Exam, and General Chairside Exam.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
  1. Meet all the general admission requirements of Coastal Alabama.                                           
  2. Eligibility for ENG 101 and MTH 116/098 according to ACT or placement exam scores, if courses have not already been completed. 
  3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 for the last 24 credit hours of college coursework, or minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 high school without college coursework. The GED equivalent is 2.5.
  4. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended and high school, or GED to admissions before July 15.
  5. Submit Dental Assisting Program application with unofficial transcripts to program director by July 15 at close of business.                                
  6. Upon acceptance and no later than the scheduled Dental Assisting Program orientation, the completed Dental Assisting form and Immunization form must be submitted. No blue cards accepted. Also, a copy of a current healthcare provider CPR card and consent to random drug testing and background check must be provided at mandatory Dental Assisting Program orientation. *Note: Students desiring to obtain BLS CPR certification at Coastal may enroll in EMS 100 during the first semester of the Dental Assisting Program.
  7. Submit required form for observation of a dental assistant completing duties at a dental office.

SELECTION:
There are 24 available spaces. If over 24 qualified applications are received, in addition to the above, points will be awarded for ENG 101, MTH 116 (or higher level Math), PSY 200, and SPH 106 or 107. In the event of a tie, additional points will be awarded for a Fine Arts Elective, CIS 146, BIO 103, and SOC 200.

DEGREE:
A certificate is awarded upon completion of the DAT courses, ENG 101, MTH 116 (or higher level Math), PSY 200, and SPH 106 or 107 for a total of 48 credit hours. Students may work as dental assistants after successful completion of the certificate. Additional requirements for the Associate of Applied Science Degree are a Fine Arts elective, CIS 146, BIO 103, and SOC 200.

This is a career program designed for students to go directly into the labor market upon completion. Although some of the courses in this program will transfer to four-year institutions, this program is not designed to be a transfer program of study; therefore, it is not subject to the terms and conditions of Alabama Transfers state transfer and articulation reporting system.

Coastal Alabama Community College’s Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been grated accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800) 232-1608 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/

SEMESTER ONE

ORI 101 may not be required for those with prior college coursework. MTH 100, 112, 113 or a higher level math may be substituted for MTH 116. SPH 106 may be taken in place of SPH 107.  The courses listed for this semester are required for the Dental Assisting Associate Degree and Dental Assisting Certificate.  

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
13

SEMESTER THREE

DAT 101 and DAT 102 procedures are taught to laboratory competence.  

EMS 100 is an optional course for DAT students to pursue CPR certification for the healthcare provider.

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
13

SEMESTER FOUR

DAT 112 procedures are taught to clinical competence.  

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
13
Total credits:
62