Dental Assisting

Information sessions will be held on the following dates/times:

It is mandatory for all applicants to attend one of our information sessions. At the end of the session, you will receive an application form for the program. The sessions are held from April to December each year, and students compete for a spot at the end of the fall semester. If you miss attending the information session by December, you may have to wait for another year to apply.

The information sessions are held online. You can join a session by following the WebEx link provided next to each date and at the scheduled time. You do not need to contact the program director to attend the meeting. The information session will last up to one hour.

If you have any questions about the program or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the Program Director via email. We look forward to seeing you at the next information session.

Program Director: Mrs. Charlton E-mail: lcharlto@laniertech.edu

Yes, some orthodontic offices will hire graduates upon completion of the program.

Most dental assistants work full time. However, nearly 1 in 3 assistants worked part time in 2016. Some may work evenings or weekends. -Statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain and update patients’ dental records. Assistants make patients comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients’ mouths dry and clear by using suction hoses or other devices. They also instruct patients on postoperative and general oral healthcare. Dental assistants are often exposed to blood and saliva as they perform their duties as a dental assistant. Since dental assistants perform their duties inside a patient’s mouth, and may be exposed to patient blood, they are encouraged to have the Hepatitis B vaccination before performing patient care.

Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, and process dental x rays as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place dental dams to isolate teeth for treatment. Many States are expanding dental assistants’ duties to include tasks such as coronal polishing and restorative dentistry functions for those assistants who meet specific training and experience requirements.

Dental assistants with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Those with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials.

Dental assistants must work closely with, and under the supervision of, dentists. Additionally, dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform a different set of clinical tasks.

Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Dental assistants must wear gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases. Assistants also follow safety procedures to minimize the risks associated with the use of x-ray machines.

Program accreditation information can be found in the Catalog and Student Handbook.  View the Dental Assisting Diploma page for more information.

Students can schedule a WebEx meeting with Mrs. Charlton by going to the following link: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/DentalAssistingProgramLanierTechnicalCollege@laniertech.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/.  After following the link, students will see the program advisor’s availability each semester.

The Dental Assisting program is a competitive admissions program. Students should visit the Dental Assisting webpage to view the admissions process and criteria for admissions. Students must attend an information session in order to get their name added to the competitive admissions process. Information sessions are held between the months of April and December. Students must check the Dental Assisting webpage for the updated information session schedule. The selection process takes place at the end of each fall semester for the following summer. Students are notified of their acceptance by the middle of the spring semester. Students must attend a program orientation in March and be core complete by the end of spring semester.