Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting

Program Overview

The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting program at Herzing University is a 68-credit undergraduate program that prepares students for a career as a dental assistant. The program combines core dental assisting courses with online general education courses to provide students with a well-rounded college education. Graduates of the program are prepared for a variety of career paths in the dental field, including dental assistant, dental hygienist, dental office manager, and dental sales representative.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting degree is a 68-credit undergraduate program that prepares students for a career as a dental assistant.
• Objectives: The program's objectives are to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills in pre-clinical dental assisting, dental science, radiology, and more, along with additional required general education courses.
• Program Description: The program combines core dental assisting courses with online general education courses to provide students with a well-rounded college education necessary to succeed in their unique career path.

Outline:

• Content: The program covers a wide range of topics, including:
• Dental terminology, oral anatomy, and oral tissue examination
• Pre-clinical dental assisting
• Infection control, dental emergencies, and disease process
• Dental materials and laboratory procedures
• Dental science, including anatomy, functions, pathology, and pharmacology
• Dental communications
• Radiography
• Expanded functions, including restorative polishing, pit and fissure sealants, and topical anesthetic application
• Dental management and office administration
• Dental ethics and jurisprudence
• Dental assisting internship
• Structure: The program has the following structure:
• 20 months of study
• 68 credits total
• 45.00 semester credit hours of required courses
• 21.00 semester credit hours of general education courses
• 2.00 semester credit hours of personal and professional development courses
• Course Schedule: The course schedule is available on the Herzing University website.
• Modules: The program is divided into the following modules:
• DS 101 - Chairside Assisting I:
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of working in a dental office as a chairside assistant.
• DS 102 - Pre-Clinical Dental Assisting: This course introduces students to the health and safety considerations for basic infection control, dental emergencies and the disease process, including infectious diseases and disease transmission.
• DS 105 - Dental Communications: This course is designed to develop the student's oral and written communications skills for use in the dental office.
• DS 107 - Dental Materials: This course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge of dental materials commonly utilized in the general dentistry office.
• DS 108 - Dental Science: This course provides an overview of general anatomy and functions including a basic understanding of the common disease process and pathological conditions.
• DS 110 - Expanded Functions I: This course introduces and expands on a variety of functions that may be required of a dental assistant.
• DS 116 - Radiology: This course will provide the student with the necessary background knowledge of ionizing radiation including the following: history of dental radiography; image and x-ray production; radiation safety; patient and operator protection and quality assurance.
• DS 121 - Advanced Expanded Functions: Where graduates of a CODA-accredited program are authorized to perform additional functions defined by the program's state-specific dental board or regulatory agency, this course will provide content for didactic and laboratory/clinical competence in monitoring and/or administering Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen analgesia, performing restoration polishing, placing pit and fissure sealants, polishing the coronal surfaces of the teeth, applying fluoride agents, placing and/or removing the rubber dam, applying topical anesthetic, fluoride, medications and desensitizing agents.
• DS 152 - Chairside Assisting II: In this course, the student will be taught the role of the dental assistant in different specialty areas in dentistry, specifically: endodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pediatric dentistry.
• DS 204 - Dental Management: In this course, the student will be introduced to the responsibilities of office management and the administrative assistant, including scheduling and appointment control, patient and business records management, filing, recall systems, financial transactions, telephone technique and etiquette, dental insurance, inventory control, and application of dental practice management software.
• DS 207 - Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence: This ethics and jurisprudence course is designed to prepare the student for their internship experience as well as the appropriate state and/or national certifications.
• DS 294 - Dental Assisting Internship: During the internship clinical phase of training, the student will experience various aspects of working in a private dental office, group dental practice, or specialty dental office.
• Module Descriptions: Each module is described in detail in the curriculum section of the Herzing University website.

Assessment:

• Assessment Methods: The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Exams
• Quizzes
• Projects
• Presentations
• Clinical evaluations
• Assessment Criteria: The program uses the following assessment criteria:
• Knowledge of dental assisting principles and practices
• Skills in dental assisting procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ethical and professional conduct

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Demonstrations
• Hands-on labs
• Clinical rotations
• Faculty: The program's faculty are experienced dental professionals who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education.
• Unique Approaches: The program offers a unique Hybrid Track option, which allows students to complete main coursework online and complete laboratory and clinical coursework at a state-of-the-industry dental clinic.

Careers:

• Career Paths: Graduates of the program are prepared for a variety of career paths in the dental field, including:
• Dental assistant
• Dental hygienist
• Dental office manager
• Dental sales representative
• Opportunities: Graduates of the program have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including:
• Private dental offices
• Group dental practices
• Specialty dental clinics
• Hospitals
• Outcomes: Graduates of the program have a high success rate in finding employment in the dental field.
Many graduates go on to pursue further education and training in the dental field or related fields.