Dental Assisting - North Dakota State College of Science

Dental Assisting from North Dakota State College of Science is a Campus Certificate Dentistry degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. The duties of a Dental Assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The Dental Assistant performs a wide range of tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. Depending on each state?s regulations, some specific tasks Dental Assistants may perform are: assisting the dentist during a variety of procedures; helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after treatment; asking about the patient?s medical history and taking his or her blood pressure and pulse; exposing and developing dental radiographs (X-rays); teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (brushing and flossing); taking impressions of patient?s teeth for study models; applying preventive agents such as fluoride or pit and fissure sealants; serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment; performing office management tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing, ordering and computer use; assisting with and helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties; and provide other expanded duties according to state regulations. The Dental Assisting program is approximately 10 months in length. The program includes curriculum content in general studies, biodental sciences, dental sciences, clinical sciences and clinical practice. Graduates are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board. Students receive more than 300 hours of on-the-job training in community and regional dental offices in addition to courses taken on campus. Students will be required to cover all expenses associated with affiliation and internship assignments. Graduates will be capable of working in a variety of settings such as: solo and group dental practices; general or specialty practices such as oral and maxillofacial surgery (removal of teeth and correction of facial deformities), orthodontics (straightening teeth with braces or other appliances), dentofacial orthopedics, endodontics (root canal treatment), periodontics (treatment of gum problems), prosthodontics (replacement of lost teeth) and pediatric dentistry (treatment of children); and sales and marketing of dental products. View more details on North Dakota State College of Science . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Dentistry courses.