MCC’s Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. As such, graduates are considered a DA II in North Carolina and may be eligible to sit for the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) Certification Examination. Upon successful completion of the exam, graduates are awarded the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential. Dental Assisting is a one-year diploma day program.
The Dental Assisting curriculum prepares health care professionals to assist the dentist in the delivery of dental treatment while performing chairside and related office and laboratory procedures.
Course work includes instruction in general studies, biomedical sciences, dental sciences, clinical sciences, and clinical practice. A combination of lecture, laboratory and clinical experience provides students with knowledge in infection/hazard control, radiography, dental materials, preventive dentistry, and clinical procedures.
The Dental Assisting program requires 384 hours of clinical practice in a dental office. Clinical practice is supervised by a dentist and dental office staff. Students do not receive monetary compensation for their clinical practice but work directly with patients and dental office personnel to receive chairside, administrative, and laboratory experience.
Job Opportunities
Some job opportunities for successful graduates include:
- dental assistants
- entry-level dental office administrators
- hygiene assistants
Some settings in which dental assistants may find employment include: private practice, public health facilities, and dental specialty offices.
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. The aging population and ongoing research linking oral health and general health will lead to continued increases in the demand for preventive dental services.
FACILITIES
The Dental Assisting program is located on the main campus of MCC. The laboratory portion of the program allows students to be trained in a variety of dental assisting task in a virtual dental office setting. The facility is complete with four, fully-equipped operatories, a laboratory, radiology facilities, and a classroom.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Dental Assisting Club is a voluntary campus organization comprised of students, faculty, and staff at MCC. The club works to provide students with opportunities to promote their profession in the community, to participate in fundraisers, outreach activities, conventions and seminars, and to learn about people and agencies that play a vital role in the dental assisting field.
SELECT ANY OPTION BELOW TO SEE A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PROGRAM COMPLETION, ADMISSIONS, COSTS, FINANCIAL AID, AND MORE.
| PROGRAM OPTIONS | REQUIRED HOURS | Program Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assisting Diploma | 45 semester hours | Costs |
Advisor
Daily Tasks
- Prepare treatment rooms
- Greet patients, prepare patients and review medical and dental history
- Take and record vital signs of patients
- Set up instrument trays and prepare dental materials
- Expose diagnostic dental x-rays
- Assist dentist during dental procedures
- Monitor sedation patients
- Record dental treatment information in patient records
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control
- Disinfectant treatment rooms
- Sterilize or disinfect instruments
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies
- Fabricate temporary restorations
- Fabricate custom and vacuum trays from preliminary impressions
- Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
- Make preliminary impressions for study casts
- Clean and polish removable appliances
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory