Dental assistants play a vital role in dental offices and clinics. SCC’s program is comprised of classroom, laboratory and pre-clinical instruction in dental assisting skills and related theory. High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, health and office practices.
Location Offered: Lincoln, Online
Overview
The Dental Assisting program is a four-quarter (12-month), face-to-face or online program if taken on a full-time basis. The program also may be taken on a part-time basis, which extends the length to six quarters or one-and-a-half years. The program provides opportunities to develop specialized skills in dental health education, chair-side assisting, laboratory procedures, and business office procedures and management. The program provides clinical experiences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center - College of Dentistry, Veteran’s Medical Center – Dental Clinic, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Dental Clinic, People’s Health Center Dental Clinic, City Mission Dental Clinic and private dental offices. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
Mission
The mission of the Dental Assisting program is to meet a community need by providing a CODA-accredited Dental Assisting program that includes practice in dental offices and clinics, and a planned course of study that enhances the delivery of quality dental health care to the general public.
Job Outlook
Employment is expected to grow 29 percent through 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, dental assistants are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations during the 2006-16 projection period. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who have been less likely to employ assistants or have employed fewer, are leaving the occupation and will be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one or more assistants. In addition, as dentists’ workloads increase, they are expected to hire more assistants to perform routine tasks, so that they may devote their own time to more complex procedures. Job prospects for dental assistants should be excellent. In addition to job openings due to employment growth, numerous job openings will arise out of the need to replace assistants who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave for other reasons. Many opportunities for entry level positions offer on-the-job training, but some dentists prefer to hire experienced assistants or those who have completed a dental-assisting program. The average salary reported was $13.80 per hour, with a high of $15 per hour.