PROGRAM COSTS

* Program costs subject to change

The Dental Assisting program prepares students to practice and perform many skills such as chairside assisting, infection control procedures, radiology, and administrative duties in the dental office. 

 Dental Assistants are those who support the Dentists and Dental Hygienists. Their daily tasks can vary and include both administrative work and patient support. Dental Assistants take a patient's medical history, explain procedures, and assist Dentists during procedures. As an assistant, you can also expect to be responsible for preparing treatment rooms, including sterilizing dental equipment and tools, preforming digital imaging and taking impressions. Dental Assistants will also have the opportunity to gain certification to perform fluoride applications, dental sealants, and coronal polishing. 

• Obtaining the theory and skills to assist and perform laboratory and chair-side procedures

• Developing ability to prepare patients for treatment, maintain their records and assist a dentist in their treatment in the on-site dental

• Assisting the dentist during a variety of dental procedures

• Taking and developing dental X-rays

• Developing infection control protocol

• Preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment

• Providing oral care instruction following dental treatment

• Performing office management tasks and a variety of laboratory procedures related to dental treatment

Students will also perform several “hands-on” activities including working in the The Putnam Dental Clinic. The clinic is located inside the dental assisting classroom and is a work-based experience for each student in the dental assisting program. Academic’s focus on strong English skills including grammar, punctuation and terminology. Students should have an interest in science and health.

• HIPAA

• OSHA 10 General

• CPR/First Aid/AED

• Leadership certificates through HP-SkillsUSA

• Nitrous Oxide Monitoring

• Registered Dental Assistant

• Expanded Duties for the Restorative Dental Assistant

• Chair-side Assistants

• Hygiene Assistants

• Dental Adjudicators

• Dental Sales

• Receptionists

• Sterilization Assistants

• Public Health

• Administrative Assistants

• Documentation Assistants

• Interest in science and health

• Strong communication and reading

Communication skills are extremely important to be successful in this career.
Verbal, nonverbal, and written communication need to be strong. Students will also need to be drug free.

Student must obtain and show proof of the Hepatitis B Vaccination prior to working in the on-site dental clinic.

Students must maintain a “B” or better in each course to continue in the program and to be permitted in the clinic.

Students are required to wear scrub uniforms, clinic shoes, jacket and safety glasses at all times in the clinic. Students must provide their own clinic shoes meeting OSHA requirements.

For Adult General Admission Requirements, click here.

This program participates in the West Virginia Department of Education Simulated Workplace environment.
For more information and requirements, click here.

Students will be provided with any technology instruction, devices and software required.

Students may enroll in SkillsUSA and/or HOSA

2 Academic Years (22 months) – 1080 clock hours (Secondary & Adult part-time enrollment)

1 Academic Year (10 months) – 1080 clock hours (Adult full-time enrollment)

Consisting of eight (8), nine-week courses of 135 clock hours each

Course Frequency: Each course offered once each academic year

Secondary & Adult Part-time schedule shown below.

Adult Full-time schedule includes the 1st year schedule in the morning and the 2nd year schedule in the afternoon

• 0715 Advanced Principles of Health Science

• 0711 Foundations of Health Science

• 0746 Dental Assistant Dental Science

• 0743 Dental Assisting Clinical Science

• 0742 Dental Assistant Clinical Practices

• 0749 Supervised Dental Clinical Experience

• 0747 Dental Specialties

• 0745 Dental Assistant Clinical Mentoring

• 0748 Dental Terminology  (embedded throughout courses)

Students must earn at least an 80% on each course final exam, maintain a “B” average in the program and maintain at least 90% attendance in each course to be eligible to test for certifications.

SYLLABUS

Instructional content will focus on healthcare safety, environmental safety processes and procedures, ethical and legal responsibilities and mathematical computations. Medical terminology and the reinforcement, expansion and enhancement of biology content specific to diseases and disorders are an integral part of the course. Instruction will incorporate project and problem based healthcare practices and procedures to demonstrate the importance of these skills. Students will develop basic technical skills required for all health career specialties including patient privacy, communication, teamwork and occupational safety and be provided with opportunities to obtain certifications in HIPAA/Data Privacy and health care safety. Students utilize problem‐solving techniques and participate in hands‐on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization, HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and Content skill sets.

This course is designed to allow instructional content to focus on basic medical terminology, growth and development, nutrition, health maintenance practices and healthcare delivery systems. It is designed to provide the student with knowledge and technical skills required for infection control and the prevention of disease transmission, CPR and First Aid. Students will be provided with the opportunity to acquire certification in these areas. Students utilize problem‐ solving techniques and participate in hands‐on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization, HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and Content skill sets.

This course provides an introduction to dental laboratory techniques and procedures while preparing the student for entry‐level employment as a dental laboratory assistant. Students will obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to assist and/or perform basic laboratory and diagnostic procedures. With participation and input of therapeutic services professionals, instructional content will incorporate project and problem‐based therapeutic practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these skills. Students utilize problem‐solving techniques and participate in hands‐on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization, HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and Content skill sets.

The student completing this course will be able to use knowledge from previously required courses to perform and practice all aspects of Dental Laboratory Assisting in a clinical setting. Students will obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to assist and/or perform basic laboratory and diagnostic procedures. With participation and input of therapeutic services professionals, instructional content will incorporate project and problem‐based therapeutic practices and procedures to demonstrate the criticality of these skills. Students utilize problem solving techniques and participate in hands‐on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization, HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and content skill sets.

The student within the Dental Assistant Clinical Practices course will focus on knowledge and skills required for the Dental Assistant to function within the areas of radiography and emergency medical care. Students utilize problem-solving techniques and participate in hands-on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and skill sets.

The student within the Supervised Dental Assistant Experience course will focus on instructional components that will enable him/her to work as an effective member of the dental team. Students will be introduced to the specialties of dentistry and the requirements necessary to function as an administrative and chair side assistant in a dental office. Students utilize problem- solving techniques and participate in hands-on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and skill sets.

This course contains the beginning concepts and skills students will need for entry-level employment as a dental assistant in a specialty office. Major instructional concepts include orientation to specialty areas, instrumentation and procedures. Students are required to complete a work-based clinical experience in each of the specialty areas within this course. Students utilize problem-solving techniques and participate in hands-on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and skill sets.

The student in the Dental Assisting Clinical Mentoring course will participate in a school and community partnership that allows students to participate in practical “hands-on” training under the supervision of a career related professional. The partnership will take place in a clinical facility, whose staff shares insight, knowledge, and skills instruction. In addition to the clinical externship, instructional content will focus on employability skills necessary for job seeking and keeping. Students utilize problem-solving techniques and participate in hands-on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and skill sets.

This course contains the dental terminology needed for entry-level employment as a Dental Assistant within both clinical and administrative areas. The course includes an overview of the role, function and utilization of dental terminology. Major instructional components include the use of dental terminology in the following areas: odontology and anatomical landmarks, infection control, chair side assisting, radiography, dental laboratory, pharmacology and emergency care, business office procedures and dental specialties. Students utilize problem- solving techniques and participate in hands-on activities to develop an understanding of course concepts. Teachers should provide each student with real world learning opportunities and instruction. Students are encouraged to become active members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals. All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology tools and skill sets.