Overview and Award Outcomes
Overview
This certificate will prepare students with the foundational knowledge of the Dental Assisting profession. Working in a dental office, all positions are important members of a professional health team. This award offers students an understanding of infection control and basic chairside procedures and business office and laboratory procedures. This award prepares students to be an unlicensed dental assistant. A student must complete the accredited Dental Assistant diploma or associate degree to be eligible to the Dental Assisting National Board exam. Passing this exam is a requirement to apply for licensure which then allows dental assistants to perform expanded functions on patients.
Award Outcomes
Apply current concepts of infection control and occupational safety
Demonstrate an understanding of dental sciences
Facilitate effective communication with patients and dental team members
Perform limited clinical, laboratory and administrative procedures in various dental environments
Semester Sequence
Offered at Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie
General Information
• The Dental Assistant program at Hennepin Technical College is approved by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, www.dentalboard.state.mn.us.
• The Certificate in Dental Assisting award is not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA.)
• All Dental Assistant students must earn a C or better in all DNTL (Dental Assistant) courses. In the event that a student earns a D, F or W grade in a DNTL course, the student may repeat that course only one time the next semester that the course is offered.
• Current certification in CPR is mandatory throughout the entire award training. Proof of current CPR certification is also required in order to take the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) examinations.
• Students who have earned their Dental Assisting certificate are eligible to take the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety and the Infection Control Examinations.
• A written notification is required from a physician/obstetrician for a pregnant student to continue enrollment in DNTL1241 Dental Radiology.
• Information is available on the HTC website and from the Enrollment Advisors, HTC Counselors, and the dental assistant program faculty which state the risks of entering this profession in regard to bloodborne pathogens and disease transmission, including needlesticks.
Criminal Background Studies
Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or child care facility licensed by the State of Minnesota must have a background study conducted by the state. Individuals with specified felony convictions are prohibited from having direct contact with children, patients, and residents of licensed facilities. Anyone refusing to cooperate in the criminal background study cannot participate in coursework that requires direct contact with children, patients or residents. Students who are disqualified from having direct patient/resident/child contact will not be able to participate in coursework which includes a practical experience. Therefore, completion of coursework for the program major will not be possible without documentation of a cleared background study.
Additional Program Costs
Books - $300
Program Kit (Typodonts) - $200 + tax
Scrub uniforms, lab coat, white shoes - $125
Student name tag - $16
Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) - $350 (Optional)
Approx. Total for Additional Program Costs - $1,000
Graduation (21 Credits)
Semester listings reflect the recommended sequence. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the information herein is subject to change without notice.
5/17/2024 : BP 7612 / EP 7613