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
- COM-100 Introduction to Communication (or higher)
- DAS-101 Chairside Assisting I
- DAS-102 Infection Prevention
- DAS-103 Chairside Assisting II
- DAS-105 The Dental Professional
- DAS-114 Operative Dentistry
- DAS-115 Dental Science and Health
- DAS-120 Dental Materials I
- DAS-123 Dental Materials II
- DAS-130 Dental Radiology I
- DAS-132 Dental Radiology II
- DAS-150 Dental Office Procedures
- DAS-191 Dental Clinic Practicum I
- DAS-192 Dental Clinic Practicum II
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
- MTH-128 Contemporary Mathematics
- MTH-128S Cont Mathematics with Support
- MTH-129 Introductory Statistics
- MTH-130 Algebra for Calculus
- MTH-130S Algebra for Calculus With Support
- MTH-131 Trigonometry
- MTH-138 Pre-Calculus Mathematics
- MTH-140 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
- MTH-141 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
- MTH-210 Statistical Methods
- MTH-215 Algebraic Structures
- MTH-230 Linear Algebra
- MTH-240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
- MTH-241 Differential Equations
Written Communications - 3 Credit Hours
Natural Sciences - 4 Credit Hours
- BCS-115 Essentials in Human Biology
- BCS-132 Health Sciences Nutrition
- BCS-165 Human Anatomy
- BCS-210 Pathophysiology
- BIO-100 Life Science
- BIO-105 Environmental Science
- BIO-135 Nutrition for Living
- BIO-142 Essential Biology
- BIO-160 General Biology I
- CHM-101 Introductory Chemistry
- CHM 160 General Chemistry ILoading…
- PHY-105 Introduction to Physics
- PHY-110 Introduction to Geology
- PHY-115 Introduction to Astronomy
- PHY-120 General Physics I
- PHY-220 Physics Engrs & Scientists I
- CHM-160 General Chemistry I
- and
- CHM-161 General Chemistry I Lab
Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credit Hours (must include PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)
- ANT-101 Introduction to Anthropology
- ANT-220 Cultural Anthropology
- COM-150 Intro Mass Communication
- CRM-210 Intro to Criminal Justice
- ECO-270 Principles of Macroeconomics
- ECO-275 Principles of Microeconomics
- GRY-101 World Geography
- HST-105 Ancient and Medieval World History
- HST-106 Modern World History
- HST-120 U.S. History I: to 1865
- HST-130 U.S. History II: 1865-Present
- PLS-101 American Government and Politics
- PLS-201 International Relations
- PSY-110 Introduction to Psychology
- PSY-130 Life Span Development Psychology
- SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology
- SOC-210 Urban Sociology
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.
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
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.