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  • Dental Assisting.
    Prepare for a - Rewarding Career
    Dental assistants work alongside dentists and dental hygienists and perform a variety of patient care.
    Graduate Report
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    Health Sciences Animated Walk Through. 
    Amanda Skuban.
    Faculty Spotlight - Amanda Skuban
    Instructor creates engaging learning environment.
    More about Amanda
    Dental Assisting.
    Prepare for a - Rewarding Career
    Dental assistants work alongside dentists and dental hygienists and perform a variety of patient care.
    Graduate Report
    Dental Assisting.
    Prepare for a - Rewarding Career
    Dental assistants work alongside dentists and dental hygienists and perform a variety of patient care.
    Graduate Report
     

Dental Assisting

  •  Estimated Cost: $7,420

    Program Length: 2-4 semesters

    Locations: Lincoln

    Start Term(s): Fall / Spring

    Awards Offered: AAS / Diploma

    Program Description

    As a dental assistant, you interact with patients and assist dentists to provide quality dental health which is sure to put a smile on anyone's face. Our program provides you opportunities to develop specialized skills in dental health education, chair-side assisting, various laboratory procedures, coronal polishing, radiation exposure and processing, business office procedures, and more than 300 hours of clinical experience.

    Your hands-on classroom includes laboratory, pre-clinical and clinical instruction covering dental assisting skills and related theory. To prepare yourself for our curriculum, we recommend you take courses in biology, anatomy, chemistry, health, nutrition, and computer skills.

    Dental assistants are classified as licensed professionals in the state of Nebraska. With your license, you will be able to continue your education and training in advanced dental assisting courses.

    Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. Your skills are both interpersonal and technical which are among the most comprehensive in the dental office. You will be a successful dental assistant if you:

    • are detail oriented and able to work on a team
    • make patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
    • are able to communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
    • anticipate a patient’s needs, making quick decisions without supervision
    • communicate and teach appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health
    • document and communicate changes in the patient’s condition with other health care providers
    • have the ability to multitask
    • are a person of character with honesty and integrity

    START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Get Started Checklist: Diploma (PDF) to complete the program application process. (All students must start with the diploma program first.)

    START HERE: Please follow the steps on the Get Started Checklist: AAS (PDF) (Diploma in Dental Assisting degree required) to complete the program application process. (Students must be a graduate of the diploma program.)

    Additional links/resources:

    You picked the right time to become a dental assistant. Population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations fuels the demand for dental services. Recent SCC graduates report an average annual starting salary of $40,456. Career options include:

    • Certified Dental Assistant
    • Dental Assistant
    • Orthodontic Assistant
    • Licensed Dental Assistant
    • Dental Claims Processor
    • Office Manager

    The Dental Assisting program at SCC is accredited by:

    CODA LogoADA - CODA
    211 E. Chicago Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60611
    312-440-4653
    http://www.ada.org/en/coda

    This program 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.

    Program Outcomes (PDF)

    Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    This program’s curriculum has been approved through a National accreditor, the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. This program is acceptable in all states, however, other states may have additional requirements.

    States offering programs similar to SCC’s are: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH,OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI.

    Crystal Stuhr, CDA, BS, LDA, Program Chair, Instructor
    Certified Dental Assistant and Licensed Dental Assistant
    BS, Doane College-Lincoln
    402-437-2740
    cstuhr@southeast.edu

    Angelique Dean, CDA, BS, LDA, Instructor
    Certified Dental Assistant and Licensed Dental Assistant
    BS, Doane College-Lincoln
    402-437-2887
    adean@southeast.edu

    Amanda Skuban, BS, CDA, LDA, Instructor
    Certified Dental Assistant and Licensed Dental Assistant
    BS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    402-437-2742
    askuban@southeast.edu

    Brittany Walters, CDA, BS, LDA, Instructor
    Certified Dental Assistant and Licensed Dental Assistant
    BS, Bellevue University-Lincoln
    402-437-2741
    bwalters@southeast.edu

    Renae Zarybnicky, CDA, BS, LDA, Instructor
    Certified Dental Assistant and Licensed Dental Assistant
    BS, Doane College - Lincoln
    402-437-2776
    rzarybnicky@southeast.edu

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    For more information about the post-graduation achievements of SCC Graduates as well as average starting salaries, refer to the annual Graduate Report.

    For information about the methodologies used to gather the post-graduation student achievement data contained in the annual Graduate Report, refer to the Institutional Research page or contact ir@southeast.edu.