Dental Assistants are an integral part of the dental health care team and increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of oral health care. Dental offices typically employ two to four dental assistants with specialty offices employing more. Dental assistant job duties include front office skills such as phone skills and computer proficiency, patient care such as dietary counseling, monitoring vial signs, administering and monitoring nitrous oxide, taking impressions, and providing post-operative care and instructions. The demand for quality dental assistants is expected to continue to be above average in the future according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction provide students with a broad background in all aspects of dentistry. Internships will be provided in area offices under the guidance of dentists and assistants in the community. Students must be able to provide their own transportation to and from the various clinical sites.
Adult Students
Adult students must first apply and be accepted as NWACC students. Admission requirements are listed on the NWACC main web site. ( https://www.nwacc.edu:442/onlineApplication.php ) Courses are for credit. There is also a separate application for adult students entering the dental program. Applications for the dental program may be returned by email or mailed to the address below. Please follow the link to the application. (Insert link to dental application)
For more information about NorthWest Arkansas Community College see the main college page:
*The dental assisting program begins once a year. The next start time will be in August 2010. The following information will be updated as needed due to a proposed move and a few program changes.*
There will be 12 hours offered in the fall semester and 12 in the spring semester with classes finishing in May. There are a limited number of seats and courses are with instructor approval. When the classes fill, there will be a waiting list started.
The dental assisting program is located at the Regional Technology Center in Fayetteville. We are very close to exit 62. Classes will meet every weekday starting at 7:45 am until 11:00 am except on clinical days when they will end around 12:15 pm. Many of the clinical are held on site and are schedule with advance notice. All 12 hours each semester must be taken concurrent.
The course work will include dental terminology, dental materials, dental instruments, CPR, infection control, dental radiology, laboratory procedures, and offices procedures.
The first step is to register with NWACC; the next step would be to apply for the dental program. There will be a program application available online beginning in the spring. The immunization records will be collected in the fall.
First Semester:
DNTA 1014--Dental Science I
4 hrs
DNTA 1512--Preventive Dentistry
2
DNTA 1313--Dental Materials I
3
DNTA 1413--Dental Radiography I
3
Total credit hours
12
Second Semester:
DNTA 1113--Clinical Dentistry
3
DNTA 1023--Dental Science II
3
DNTA 1213--Dental Assisting Procedures I
3
DNTA 1223--Dental Assisting Procedures II
3
Total credit hours
12
Total Program Requirements 24 Hours
Credit Hours--12
Enrolled as:
In District Residents $792.00
Out-of-District Residents $1236.00
Contiguous County Residents $1236.00
Out-of-State Residents $1740.00
International Residents $1740.00
There is also a $15.00 fee per course ($60.00 total) for supplies and insurance. Book expenses will be approximately $150.00. All students will be required to purchase a set of scrubs; color will be picked by class vote.
Please let me know what other questions you may have.