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Dental assistants play an integral role in the flow and efficiency of dental care. Dental assistants not only help the dentist during dental procedures, but they also prep the patient, sterilize and disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials during procedures and support office management.
Attend an info session to learn more about the Dental Assisting program. We’ll cover:
The sessions last about 60 to 90 minutes and include a Q&A after the presentation.
Register for an information sessionCharacteristics of a successful dental assistant include but are not limited to: take and follow direction under stressful situations; multitask with attention to detail and organization; work collaboratively as part of a team; and possess a stable, responsible and caring temperament.
Manual dexterity, bilateral control and quick response to directions.
Students can choose between a one-year certificate and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.). You will build your skills through extensive lab and hands-on training at community clinics, private practices and the UMKC School of Dentistry.
Students will be prepared to enter the workforce as a trained dental assistant and certified expanded-function dental assistant and will be eligible to take the national certifying examination given by the Dental Assisting National Board. Learn more about the job of the Expanded Function Dental Assistant and its requirements in the states of Missouri and Kansas.
Students will sit for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) as part of the program. The Infection Control (ICE) and Radiation Health Safety (RHS) examinations are taken at the end of the fall semester, and the General Chairside (GC) examination is taken at the end of the spring semester.
Successful completion of this examination allows program graduates to use the professional credentials CDA, Certified Dental Assistant.
The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted status of "approval with reporting requirements."
The Commission is the specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312.440.4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission's web address is ada.org.
The Dental Assisting Program is a three-semester program that begins in June and accepts approximately 18 students per class.
Scholarship application deadlines: October 15 for Spring awards and February 15 for Fall awards.
MCC provides plenty of sources to fund your education, including federal aid, loans, state aid, veterans benefits and more. For information, contact the MCC-Penn Valley financial aid office at 816.604.1000. Apply for financial aid 6-10 months prior to enrollment. MCC scholarship application deadline for the fall semester is March 1.
The best way to find out more information is to come visit us. Call 816.604.4232 to schedule your visit. You can see our state-of-the-art facility and get your questions answered by our coordinator or one of our program instructors.
The cost of the entire degree and program course fees for an in-district student is approximately $9,100 - $12,000. That includes the pre-requisites and general education classes that students take prior to starting the program. Learn more about MCC's current tuition rates and lab fees.
For additional cost incurred in the program, such as books, criminal background check, drug screen etc, refer to program costs.
Our program features 300+ hours of hands-on training at both community dental clinics and at the UMKC School of Dentistry. At UMKC, you'll work alongside dental students, providing care to actual patients.
In addition, students admitted in our program will be offered training in expanded function dental assistant duties from the Missouri dental board in four categories: Restorative I, Removable Prosthodontics, Fixed Prosthodontics and Orthodontics. For more information visit moefda.org.
A dental assistant works directly with the dentist. Duties vary according to the state and include setting up for various dental procedures, suctioning, transferring of instruments and mixing materials. A dental assistant also takes radiographs, impressions and provides patient education.
A dental hygienist's duties include cleaning teeth, providing local anesthesia, performing nonsurgical periodontal therapy as well as performing head and neck examinations.
In one word: terrific! There is a labor shortage, and dentists are always looking for well-trained dental assistants. In fact, most of our students already have jobs by the time they graduate.
The deadline for applications is February 15. Students can expect to learn of their acceptance or non-acceptance within 5 weeks after February 15.
The letter will inform you the date of the mandatory program orientation that is held in April prior to the first day of school. Students not accepted into the program should contact the Student Advising Department or the Health Science Institute to determine next steps.
Apply to MCC today!