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Introduction to the Dental Assisting Program

The College of Alameda's Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education. This program consists of two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) of full-time study, preparing students to obtain their RDA (Registered Dental Assistant) and CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) licensing.

What You Will Learn

Dental assisting courses address patient dental care and oral health, including California dental law, ethics, professionalism, infection control, head and neck anatomy, dental radiology, dental materials, and chair-side skills. The program is designed to develop critical thinking skills required to work in a dental setting as an RDA, and to provide comprehensive dental assisting care to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Develop critical thinking skills required to work in a dental setting as an RDA.
• Work successfully as a member of the dental team, working closely with the dentist and dental hygienist in a variety of dental settings.
• Provide comprehensive dental assisting care to individuals from diverse socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
• Assume primary responsibility for the running of the back office, front office, insurance, and/or financial aspects of the dental practice.
• Assume responsibility for the prevention of disease transmission in the work environment and understand the importance of radiation safety.
• Perform dental assisting functions that are legally allowed in a safe and ethical manner.
• Demonstrate professionalism, honesty, and integrity, and a sense of responsibility for the ability to care for others and the community served.

Program Requirements

This full-time curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the American Dental Association Council on Dental Education for Dental Assistants. The program includes lecture and laboratory practice in the classroom, with clinical experience required in the dental clinics of the University of California in San Francisco, as well as in private dental offices. Students must complete all required courses with a minimum grade point average of 75% ("C") to earn a Certificate of Achievement and be qualified to take the Certification Examination of the DANB, the State of California RDA examinations.

Program Structure

The program requires 32 semester units in Dental Assisting, plus 9 semester units in other general education required courses, totaling 41 units.

Admission Into the Dental Program

Admission is by special application directly to the Dental Assisting Department. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and all eligibility requirements, including official transcripts, must be completed at the time of application submission. The deadline for applications is April 30th of each year for admissions into the summer/fall semester.

Application Requirements

• Possession of a high school diploma or the equivalent prior to submitting an application to and admission into the program.
• Official college transcripts must be on file in the department once admitted to the program.
• Current BLS CPR.
• Physical and dental examination, negative TB, hepatitis test results, and current Tetanus are required to be submitted to the Dental Assisting Department prior to enrollment in the fall semester.

Required Course Sequence

Fall Semester

• DENTL 222: Oral Anatomy, Morphology, and Body Systems (3.5 units)
• DENTL 223: Chairside Procedures (3 units)
• DENTL 224A: Dental Radiology I (3 units)
• DENTL 225: Dental Materials and Lab Procedures (3 units)
• DENTL 227: Bio dental Science (2 units)

Spring Semester

• DENTL 221: Professional Standards (0.5 units)
• DENTL 224B: Dental Radiology II (2 units)
• DENTL 226: Advanced Chairside Procedures (3 units)
• DENTL 228A: Clinical Rotations and Review (2 units)
• DENTL 228B: Clinical Externship & Rotations (6 units)
• DENTL 229: Practice Management (1.5 units)
• DENTL 230: Pit and Fissure Sealants & Coronal Polish (1 unit)

Summer Courses

• DENTL 251: Dental Terminology (1 unit) (highly recommended)
• DENTL 220A: Infection Control (2 units) (required)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program can fill a variety of roles, including:

• Registered dental assistant
• Certified dental assistant
• Registered dental assistant with extended functions
• Oral surgery assistant
• Certified orthodontic assistant
• Office manager
• Front office administrator
• Insurance biller
• Lab Technician

Degrees & Certificates

The Dental Assisting Program offers both an Associate of Science (AS) degree and a Certificate of Achievement. The program is designed to meet the requirements of the American Dental Association Council on Dental Education for Dental Assistants, including lecture, laboratory practice, and internships in private offices and at the UCSF Dental School.