Objectives
The Dental Assisting program consists of 1095 hours of instruction (58 quarter credit hours). Both the Day and Evening sessions require ten months (40 weeks) for completion on the basis of approximately 25 hours of instruction per week. The terms of the program are independent, thus the sequence in which they are offered to students may vary.
This program is taught in a Blended format (didactic/lecture material on-line and hands-on skills on-campus). As part of their materials, students receive a device which is fully compatible with the Learning Management System (LMS) used in the distance learning portion of courses.
Students will need approximately 25 hours per week for on-line instruction, activities and simulations and for on-campus lab work, with an additional five hours per week for reading assignments and other homework activities. Campus lab hours are 9-1 and 6-10. Students taking either day or evening labs need to plan on 2-3 lab sessions per week, based on course needs, and an occasional Saturday lab from 8-2. Lab schedules will be distributed to students prior to the start of each term. Course materials, assignments, and homework are accessible in an asynchronous format 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week through the Learning Management System (LMS).
This program intensively covers both the administrative and clinical functions performed by dental assistants. Students will develop an understanding of oral anatomy, hygiene care and diseases of the oral cavity, dental radiology, charting and record keeping, infection control, nutrition, and chairside dental procedures. Emphasis is placed on day-to-day clinical skills along with safety, ethics and practice management. The final term of the program includes an externship course. During 280 hours of externship students practice their skills in a dental office, clinic or other dental facility.
The Dental Assisting classrooms and labs are equipped with the same kinds of equipment and technology currently in use in dental offices and clinics today. Students will gain experience and knowledge working with dental units complete with evacuation systems, analog and digital radiographs; dental lab materials including Triad machine, lathe and model trimmer; oxygen tank, blood pressure equipment, face shields, amalgamator, light cure, a wide range of dental materials and instruments, autoclave and computer workstations with Eaglesoft dental software. Student will need to provide their own safety glasses. The learning environment is enhanced through a variety of anatomical charts, models, skulls, and adult and child mannequin heads. The maximum number of students being taught in an on campus classroom or lab is sixteen; the maximum number of students in an on-line class is fifty.
For students who, under unusual circumstances, need to access the LMS using something other than their school issued device, the technology requirements are:
Microsoft: Windows 10 (Need to use Chrome Browser or Firefox - current versions as released only)
iOS Devices: Current iOS release as issued by Apple ChromeOS: Current version of ChromeOS as released by Google
Required Software: PDF viewing software - Adobe Acrobat Reader recommended
Bandwidth: recommend minimum of 5Mbps download and 1Mbps upload as tested on www.speedtest.net
In conjunction with this on-line learning, students also attend classes residentially to complete the hands-on portion of the course. Students participate in group discussions and interact with their classmates and instructor in both the online classroom and the residential lab environment.
Students must successfully complete all courses prior to Externship. Students should be aware that some Externship sites will require background checks, drug tests and/or updated immunizations, including COVID, all of which would be the student’s financial responsibility. Externship sites are generally within a sixty (60) mile radius of campus.
The program prepares students and graduates to take some of the (optional) certification exams offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
The radiology and infection control certifications are credentials many employers look for. Students may sit for the DANB Radiation Health and Safety exam and the Infection Control exam any time after completing the appropriate coursework - and the cost of the exams is covered as part of your education at PCI.
This Radiology and Infection Control certificates can be applied toward the Certified Dental Assisting (CDA) exam, as can the General Chairside Assisting exam. PCI graduates who wish to sit for the General Chairside Assisting exam may do so after working 3500 hours in the field (approximately 2 years).
Graduates of the Dental Assisting program will have sufficient knowledge and skills for entry-level employment as a dental assistant in dental offices, clinics, hospitals, laboratories or public health departments.
Veterans’ Benefits are not currently available for this program.
Required Tools, Books & Supplies
There are certain books and supplies that students will need to successfully master the skills and information taught in their program. The Materials Fee covers all books, devices, instruments, tools, uniforms, supplies, and other materials and services that the students will receive from PCI during the course of their attendance in their program. (Any Ebooks issued are usually permanent once the student downloads them to their device. On-line access is usually limited to one year commencing with the day the E-book is activated. E-book access limits are based on publisher requirements and not within PCI’s control. E-book license limits are subject to change by the publisher without notice.) The amount of this fee is specified at the time the student submits his or her application. Even if costs increase, students will never pay more than the fee specified in their Enrollment Agreement.
Courses are delivered in a blended format, with lecture online and hands-on components on-campus except:
* indicates course is fully on-line
** indicates course is fully on-ground
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