2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Allied Health - Dental Assisting Certificate


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The Dental Assisting Certificate Program provides entry level theory and hands-on training in basic and routine clinical and office tasks. This program will be led by instructors with real-world experience, who will equip the dental assistant students with the skills required to perform in a clinical, laboratory, or office setting. The dental assistant will be able to assist in laboratory procedures, x-ray procedures, CPR, and patient assessments. Graduates will also be able to perform sterilization and infection control techniques, clinical procedures, and equipment maintenance. In some venues, the dental assistant is expected to effectively handle administrative office procedures, including electronic record keeping, keyboarding, billing, coding, insurance claims, and scheduling. This certificate requires successful completion of a minimum of 36 credits as outlined, and courses can be applied to completion of the Allied Health AAS-T degree.

Advising Note This program requirement sheet is not a substitute for meeting with an academic advisor. Meeting the requirements to graduate with an Edmonds College certificate or degree is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Program Requirements (36 credits)


OUTCOMES:

On completion of the program as outlined, the student will be able to: 

  1. Function effectively using critical thinking and technical skills related to chairside assisting, front office and laboratory procedures under the direction and supervision of a licensed professional.
  2. Apply current concepts of four handed dentistry for all chairside procedures including preparing tray set-ups, maintaining treatment areas and providing pre and post-operative instructions to the patient.
  3. Demonstrate proficiencies in radiation safety and techniques for exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of infection and hazard control in the dental office/lab.
  5. Perform basic office procedures necessary to assist in the management of the dental practice.
  6. Employ effective written and oral communication and listening skills in interactions with a diverse patient population.

*See Program Requirements Notes

Program Notes


The program code for this degree is DEADAC20. For financial aid, advising, and other reasons, students should work with their advisor to ensure that this code is properly recorded on their academic record.

  • Students with limited computer skills are encouraged to consider taking BSTEC 129 - PC Basics.
  • Participation in externship classes requires documentation of current vaccinations requirements, TB, and criminal background status prior to registering for those classes. Students are advised that clinical placement may be denied if vaccination records and CPR are not current or if there is a criminal history that the facility considers unacceptable.
  • All students will be required to set up an account with CastleBranch (www.castlebranch.com) to store vaccination documentation and complete a criminal background check for a fee.
  • Students may be placed in a Clinical Placements Northwest (CPNW) consortium site, which requires an extra fee.

The advisors for this program are:
Elizabeth Patterson | elizabeth.patterson@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1061

Krystal Nash | krystal.nash@edmonds.edu | 425.640.1242

Department website:

Allied Health | edmonds.edu/ahe


Certificate General Information


Credit/Grade Requirements A minimum of 30 credits or one-third of the required college-level (100-level or above) credits, whichever is less, must be earned at Edmonds College. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all college-level courses.

Program of Study Outcomes Student achievement is assessed in the general and program specific outcomes via the courses and course objectives that align with those outcomes. More information about program outcomes and course objectives can be found on the Using Program Requirement Sheets  page.

Students Are Advised To:

  • Plan their schedule several quarters in advance in order to accommodate courses that are offered only once or twice a year;
  • Review the college catalog for required course prerequisites and include these in schedule planning; and
  • Communicate with an academic advisor and/or a faculty advisor.

Graduation Application A completed Graduation Application form must be submitted online by the 10th day of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Note: Applications for summer quarter are due by the 8th day of the quarter.

Common Course Numbering Please refer to www.edmonds.edu/ccn for more information.

College Resources

Internal Coding


PLAN/STACK - DEADAC20
TC - 36
CIP - 51.0601
Last revised - 2022/04/07

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