Dental Assistants work under the supervision of a licensed dentist and assist in the care and treatment of dental patients. They perform a variety of important functions in the dental office including, but not limited to preparing the patient for treatment, providing the dentist with necessary instruments, instruct patients in proper oral hygiene, record dental services, and perform various laboratory procedures as well as managerial duties for the office. Employment may be sought as a chairside assistant, receptionist, and office manager to the general or specialty dentist in private offices, clinics, and institutions.
The Dental Assisting Program is competency-based and will teach the appropriate skills, knowledge, and perspectives needed to succeed within the dental assisting field. Students will be given the opportunity to attain competence in oral and written communications as well as skills specific to the workplace.
Admissions requirements are that students be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency. Students must pass a background check before entrance to the program is granted. Students must maintain 75 percent averages in all dental assisting courses and satisfactory (S) grades for clinical experiences in order to progress to the next course in the sequence. Students must have course grades of “C” or better in all DNTA courses listed on the dental assisting degree plan and overall 2.0 grade point averages in order to graduate with a degree in dental assisting.
Courses within the LSCO Dental Assisting Certificate are applied to the LSCO Dental Assisting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree.
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