Dental Assistant

Ramp up for a career in the field of dental assisting: Our graduates are ready for entry-level dental assisting positions in a variety of settings such as private dental offices, dental schools, the military, and dental insurance offices.

Today’s dental professionals provide efficient, safe and comfortable care for their patients, with skills such as 4-handed dentistry, infection control, laboratory and business procedures, and good patient management.

If you’re excited about a rewarding career in dental assisting, take advantage of WCC’s accredited 3-semester certificate program that offers:

  • Offers affordable tuition and payment options
  • Has expert faculty with superior skills
  • Boasts an on-site dental clinic
  • Offers Michigan Board of Dentistry approved Dental Radiography courses

You can choose 1 of 2 paths to a certificate, or go on for an associate degree:

Dental Assisting ( Certificate )

Associate in Applied Science in Occupational Studies

Students may also complete an associate degree by using the same core dental assisting courses in addition to completing the general education requirements and electives for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Occupational Studies.

What professional qualifications does this program provide?

You will have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills required to obtain state licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant, and a curriculum that prepares students to function as integral members of the dental team.

Following completion of this program, graduates are eligible to:

  • Seek Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) licensure in Michigan. Only graduates of an ADA-accredited dental assisting program are eligible to take the Michigan RDA licensing exam.
  • Seek the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
  • Expose dental radiographs in the State of Michigan.

Faculty philosophy

Our philosophy reflects the mission of the College, the Dental Assisting (DA) mission, and certain beliefs concerning the profession of dental assisting, and the education of dental assistants. These beliefs are to:

  • Foster high standards of personal conduct as well as ethical and moral responsibility.
  • Promote dental assisting as a caring profession which demands that the assistant support, teach, and care for a diverse population in a manner that leads patients to self-care.
  • Emphasize that the dental assistant is an integral member of the dental health team, helping to increase patient access to dental care, as well as increasing the productivity and efficiency of dental practices.
  • Encourage students to participate in activities offered by their professional organization and engage in community service projects.
  • Maintain partnerships with dental practitioners to benefit the DA program faculty and students. These partnerships allow the program faculty to: understand and meet the needs of the dental community as well as integrate current knowledge, procedures, and technology into the program.
  • Encourage continuous professional development by engaging in lifelong learning.
  • Offer students options for program completion that recognize knowledge and skills developed in on-the-job training at dental offices.

Accreditation

WCC’s Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312-440-4653; ada.org ).

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