Dental Assisting - Associate of Applied Science Dental Assisting - Associate of Applied Science

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Dental Assisting – Associate of Applied Science

The Dental Assisting program at OTC provides instruction on intra-oral dental procedures and direct patient care experiences. Students will develop skills to assist dentists with chairside care, provide oral health instructions to patients and perform laboratory procedures required for dental treatment. Students will also learn the basics of how a business office operates.

The Dental Assisting (A.A.S) degree requires the same program courses as the Dental Assisting Certificate, however, the A.A.S. program includes additional general education requirements to give students well-rounded credentials. Students who complete the program requirements are qualified to take the national examination to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). This program requires a separate application in addition to the application for general admission to OTC. To view application details, visit otc.edu/alliedhealth.

The Ozarks Technical Community College Dental Assisting Program is the only program in Southwest Missouri accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Program At a Glance

For those who want to:

Work in a dental office or laboratory
Assist dentists
Provide direct patient care
Prepare instruments and supplies
Learn basic dental office procedures

Program Snapshot

In-district Tuition: Click Here
Out-of-district Tuition
: Click Here
Credits: 61*
Average Salary: $42,260*
Graduation Retention Rate: 98%*

Possible Careers

Dental assistant
Dental laboratory technician
Dental office manager
Dentist
Educator

*Costs are estimates and are subject to change. Please visit the tuition and fees details page for precise details or call 417-447-7500. Degree time/credits vary with students’ enrollment and course completion. Graduation retention varies by case. For program enrollment, retention, exam/certification, and employment rates visit Student Outcomes/Student Right-to-Know. Salary information is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some careers on this list may require additional education and training. For program-specific accreditation visit OTC Accreditation.

Degree Requirements

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credit hours
Program Required Courses
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credit hours
General Education
0
credit hours
Institutional Electives

For the full program requirements, see curriculum. For the full list of courses, see the catalog.

Program Details

Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)

A.A.S. Degree: 61 Hours

The dental assisting profession offers a variety of career opportunities in a general or specialty dental offices. Dental assistants often spend much of their day working closely with patients and dentists. OTC's dental assisting program strives to provide opportunities for students to discover their talents and abilities and to achieve individual excellence.

The dental assisting program is a selective admission program. A separate application process is required for acceptance into this program.  Upon acceptance, the students may take the "program specific courses." Graduates receive a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree designed to prepare them for the national certification exam, administered by The Dental Assisting National Board and the Missouri Expanded Function Permits, issued by the Missouri Dental Board.

A grade of "C" or better is required for all dental assisting program required courses.

A new class begins each fall and spring semesters. The application deadline for the program is June 15 for the fall start and October 31 for the spring start.  Additional information may be found on the Application Packet webpage link found on the Dental Programs webpage.

The dental assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association located at 211 E Chicago, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611. 800.232.6108  https://coda.ada.org/

 

Dental Assisting - Program Requirements - 39 Credit Hours

General Education Requirements - 16 Credit Hours

The Missouri Department of Higher Education has identified a common set of general education courses that have been adopted statewide. These courses are called the "CORE 42."  CORE 42 courses are guaranteed to transfer to any Missouri public college or university to satisfy general education requirements.

Courses in knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicates courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Courses that do not have this designation may still transfer to public and private colleges and universities in Missouri and elsewhere, but students are encouraged to check the transfer equivalency website of the institution to which they plan to transfer to confirm.

Please refer to the MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

Mathematical Sciences - 3 Credit Hours

Written Communications - 3 Credit Hours

Natural Sciences - 4 Credit Hours

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credit Hours (must include PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)

Institutional Electives - 6 Credit Hours

The 6 elective hours for this category can consist of any course numbered 100 or higher from any area of study that a student is eligible to enroll.



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Dental Assisting (A.A.S.) Suggested Course Sequence - Fall Start - 61 Hours

A suggested course sequence is a semester-by-semester list of courses suggested for successful and timely completion of a degree. This course sequence is designed for full-time students beginning in the fall semester.  Students should follow the suggested course sequence appropriate to their catalog year.  The Dental Assisting program is selective admission. Please contact the Health Sciences Office at healthsciences@otc.edu or 417-447-8803 with any questions you may have.  To view the catalog page and full list of courses for this program, please see the 

 link or see the program welcome page for additional information.

Fall Semester 1

Spring Semester 2

Fall Semester 3

Spring Semester 4

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Dental Assisting (A.A.S.) Suggested Course Sequence - Spring Start - 61 Hours

A suggested course sequence is a semester-by-semester list of courses suggested for successful and timely completion of a degree. This course sequence is designed for full-time students beginning in the spring semester.  Students should follow the suggested course sequence appropriate to their catalog year.  The Dental Assisting program is selective admission. Please contact the Health Sciences Office at healthsciences@otc.edu or 417-447-8803 with any questions you may have.  To view the catalog page and full list of courses for this program, please see the 

 link or see the program welcome page for additional information.

Spring Semester 1

Summer Semester 2

Fall Semester 3

Spring Semester 4

Summer Semester 5

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Program Contact

Sarah Smith
Dental Assisting Program Director
417-447-8832

Admissions

General Admissions to Ozarks Tech

Admission to Ozarks Technical Community College is open to all individuals who can benefit from its educational programs. A focus of the college mission is on the academic, career and personal goals of the student. OTC may admit you as a First-Time student just completing their high school, GED or HiSET requirements or as a Transfer student coming from another institution finishing up a certificate or degree. For more information, visit OTC Admissions.

Wondering how you’re going to pay for college? At OTC, we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to earning a degree. Our staff will work with you to make a financial plan. To browse the resources available to you, see paying for college.

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