Dental Assistant - Associate of Science Degree

A copy of the school catalog is available from the locations page of each site .

Objective

The Dental Assistant associate degree program prepares students to enter the fast-growing dental services field through extensive hands-on learning. It is an excellent choice for students who want to earn an associate degree in less time than many other degree programs.

Students who complete the Associate of Science degree in Dental Assisting can compete for several types of dental assistance assisting jobs, including dental radiography, chair-side assistant, and dental administrative assistant positions.

Advanced positions may include lead dental assistant, front or back office manager, and financial/treatment advisor.

The Associate of Science degree program can be completed in as little as 20 months, although this may vary by location. Courses include:

• 10 classes courses in Dental Assisting
• 5 courses in General Education
• 2 courses in Allied Health
• 1 course each in Anatomy and Physiology, Computer Applications, and Career Success

Each course stands alone as a unit of study and is not dependent upon prerequisite training. A student may enter the program at the beginning of any course and continue through the sequence until completion of all courses.

Students are taught the fundamentals of dental assisting responsibilities, including:

• Effective oral and written communications with patients and other dental team members
• Distinguishing between emergency and non-emergency situations while taking appropriate actions, up to and including CPR, emergency kit activation, and administering oxygen
• Front-office skills including general office skills, patient intake, scheduling, and financial record management
• Applying fundamental chair-side assistant skills
• Competently performing independent duties approved by the State Board of Dental Examiners

Externship

The externship is undertaken following the successful completion of all classroom training.

This program is available at the following locations:

• Anthem Career College - Nashville
• Anthem College - Atlanta
• Anthem College - Kansas City
• Anthem College - Orlando
• Anthem College - Saint Louis - North
• Anthem College - Saint Louis - South
• The Bryman School of Arizona