Program Description
In the Dental Assistant program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to become an important member of a professional health team in a dental office or clinic. You may earn a Dental Assistant Diploma or an AAS Degree. A dental assistant performs many duties at chairside, including assisting the dentist during patient treatment. The assistant must also be skilled in related office and laboratory procedures, as well as the MN State Board of Dentistry, expanded functions.
Dental Assistant graduates are employed in many areas of dentistry, including general dentistry as well as dental specialties such as pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics and periodontics, and more.
To begin the Dental Assistant program, please apply to the college and review additional steps under the Application Process section below.
Program Information
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Class Time: Day
Semester: Fall Semester
Campus: Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park
Skills Required
Personal qualities considered essential for this occupation are the ability to work well with others, the desire to be a part of a professional team, manual dexterity, good communication skills, and the ability to follow direct supervision.
Program Requirements
Prerequisites:
Students are required to complete the following prior to the first semester:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Tetanus vaccination (TDAP) within the last 10 years
- Hepatitis B Vaccination (2 vaccinations of a series of 3 must be completed)
- Mantoux testing required within first two weeks of fall semester courses
- Dental Immunization Form
First semester:
- Score of 70% or higher on Computer Literacy Basic Test or CPLT 1100 Essential Computer Applications
- Completed the EMSV1020 CPR/First Aid course or current CPR for Health Care Provider of Professional Rescuer.
- COMM1250 Interpersonal Communication (C or better grade) or COMM1260 Small Group Communication (C or better grade)
- DNTL1121 Dental Science (C or better grade)
- ENGL1100 Writing and Research or ENGL1250 Short Form Composition and Reporting (C or better grade)
Important information while in the program:
- Current certification of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is mandatory throughout the entire program, including externships. Proof of current CPR certification is also required in order to take the national certification examinination.
- Minnesota law requires a background study for any persons who provide services that involve direct contact with children, patients, and residents at a health or child care faciltiy licensed by the State of Minnesota. Contact the Department of Human Services (651-431-2000) with questions.
- A written notification is required from a physician or obstetrician for a pregnant student to continue enrollment in Radiology, expanded functions, and clinical externships.
- Information is available on the Hennepin Tech website and from enrollment advisors, Hennepin Tech counselors, and dental assistant program faculty which state the risks of entering this profession in regard to bloodborne pathogens and disease transmission, including needlesticks.
Wages/Outlook/Advancement
Wage and Job Outlook information for this program are available at CAREERwise. Dental Assistants are employed in private and group practices, government public health clinics, dental sales, insurance companies, educational facilities, and the armed forces.
Accreditation and Articulations
The Dental Assistant program at Hennepin Technical College is approved by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, Dentalboard.State.MN.US.
The program in Dental Assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and 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. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678.
Hennepin Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institution of Higher Education, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 1-800-621-7440.
- American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)*
- Minnesota Dental Assistants Association(MDAA)*
- Dental Assistant National Board (DANB)
*Students have the opportunity for membership in the ADAA and MDAA as student members.
All faculty are members of the American Dental Assistants Association, MN Dental Assistants Association, MN Educators of Dental Assistants (MEDA) and are certified by the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB).
Accreditation and Articulations
An articulation agreement between Hennepin Technical College and Minnesota State University Moorhead will facilitate credit transfer of HTC's Dental Assistant A.A.S. degree toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from MSU-Moorhead.
Industry Partners
The purpose of the Dental Assistant Advisory Committee is to promote a partnership between career and technical education, business labor and the communities they serve. Advisory committee members provide input on program structure, curriculum, technology, and student preparation. Become an Advisory Committee Member. For more information contact Lori Laabs at 952-995-1403
Employers: Post a job on the Career Services website.
Equipment & Supplies Donation: Contact Susan Thaemert.
Hennepin Technical College builds cooperative relationships and partnerships with other educational institutions, business, and industry to help position HTC graduates to compete in a global markerplace. These business and industry connections help make HTC one of the leaders in education for employment.
Advisory Committee Affiliations:
- Children's Dental Services
- Metro DentalCare
- Park Dental
- Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC)
- Patterson Dental
- Eckart Dental Center/David Eckart, DDS
USDE Professional Licensure Disclosure
The Hennepin Technical College Dental Assistant curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Minnesota. At this time, Hennepin Technical College is unable to make a determination if the Dental Assistant program meets the licensing requirement for any state or US protectorate besides Minnesota. You will want to contact the licensing board in which state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements, below we provide a link to a list of each states licensing board. If you have further questions about licensure for Dental Assistants please feel free to reach out to Susan Thaemert, Dental Assistant Program Director, and we will be happy to help you.
For more information on state licensing boards and their contact information for Dental Assistants please visit the Danb.org website.
Last reviewed 02/16/2022
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Email: OneStop@HennepinTech.edu
Phone: 952-995-1300