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  • Dental Assisting

Dental Assisting

As a dental assisting student, you will learn to work chairside with the dentist in the care and treatment of patients.

Questions? Call 440.891.7732

No trip to the dentist office would be the same without a highly trained dental assisting staff. As a Dental Assisting student, you will learn to work chairside with the dentist in the care and treatment of patients. Along with the basic dental laboratory procedures, you will learn dental terminology, the use of instruments and equipment, x-ray procedures, preparation of dental materials and dental office management skills.

The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. If you have strong communication skills, enjoy working with your hands as well as your mind and want a career with responsibility, you will find the Dental Assisting program to be a rewarding experience.

Upon completion of this program, you are eligible to take the Certified Ohio Dental Assisting Exam to hold the title of CODA (Certified Ohio Dental Assistant), to become Dental Radiology Certified and receive your CPR certification.

Credits

High School Credit Junior Year
Dental Assisting: 2.5, Technology: .5, Anatomy & Physiology: 1.0

High School Credit Senior Year
Dental Assisting:  3.0

Certifications
Certified Ohio Dental Assistant
First Aid/CPR
Dental Radiology Certification

Potential College Credit
*See your Polaris Counselor for more information on college credit agreements.

Program Resources
Junior Program Fee & Supply List
Senior Program Fee & Supply List
Dental Uniform Information

Uniform Ordering

Skills

  • Instrument transfer
  • Oral evacuation and retraction
  • Sterilization
  • Infection control
  • Tray setups and procedures
  • How to expose, process and mount x-rays
  • How to use dental computer software
  • Orthodontic procedures
  • Dental anatomy
  • Use Dental materials
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Patient tooth charting
  • Patient education
  • Chair-side assisting
  • Dental office management skills
  • Take Digital x-ray images
  • Use Intra-oral camera
  • Dental Specialties
  • Employability skills


Equipment

  • Autoclave
  • X-ray machine
  • Digital x-ray Equipment
  • Model trimmer
  • Dental hand-pieces
  • Dental unit
  • Vacuum former
  • Vacuum system
  • Curing unit
  • Ultrasonic cleaner
  • Automatic processor
  • Amalgamator
  • Intraoral camera
  • Dental x-ray processor
  • Air compressor
  • Computers
  • ProCart II


Career Options

(as a Certified Dental Assistant)

  • Business Office Manager/Receptionist
  • Circulatory Assistant
  • Dental Lab Technician
  • Endodontic Assistant
  • General Chairside Assistant
  • Hospital Dental Clinic Assistant
  • Hygiene Assistant
  • Insurance Manager
  • Oral Surgery Assistant
  • Orthodontic Assistant
  • Pedodontic Assistant
  • Periodontic Assistant
  • Prosthodontic Assistant
  • Sterilization Assistant


Future Opportunities with Further Education

  • Dental Equipment Repair Technician
  • Dental Hygienist (RDH)
  • Dental Laboratory Technician
  • Dental Sales Representative
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery – Dentist
  • Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA)
 


 

Teacher: Rachelle Pickwick
Email:
  rpickwic@polaris.edu
Education:  BS in Education, Kent State University
Certifications:  CDA, CODA
At Polaris Since:  2000
Industry Experience:  23 years in the dental industry

 

Dental Assisting 2021-2022 Advisory Members

Mrs. Catherine Gallagher, West Park Dental
Mr. Ken Hawkinson, Patterson Dental
Dr. Mark Iacobelli, Mark A. Iacobelli DDS, Inc.
Dr. Edward Jimenez, Edward Jimenez DDS
Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, Brooklyn Dental Group
Ms. Mackenzie Smith, Patterson Dental
Ms. Dina Trizzino, Middleburg Heights Family Dentistry
Ms. Jenn Vanco, Middleburg Heights Family Dentistry
 
7285 Old Oak Blvd., Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
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