Dental Assisting

We have full-time and part-time start dates throughout the year! Give us a call at 720-423-4700 to find out when our next available start date is.

Are you interested in dentistry but not sure if becoming a dentist is right for you? Training to be a dental assistant will give you the tools you need to start working in the dental industry now!

What’s a dental assistant? Dental Assistants are the front-line providers in the dental office, working directly with patients and assisting dentists with procedures, as well as performing a variety of laboratory procedures.

Through labs in our simulated classroom dental lab and a clinical internship in a dental environment, Emily Griffith’s online/on-campus program prepares you with the medical knowledge and experience you need to become a well-respected member of a dental team.

You’ll develop skills in conducting chair-side procedures, radiology and X-rays, practice management, patient education, infection control and laboratory work.

Clinical placement: Students will be required to complete 300 clinical internship hours in order to complete the program.

Facilities: Practice your skills in our fully functioning, on-site dental lab so you’ll be ready to work as a professional dental assistant.

Want more information? Get the Dental Assisting Program Flyer and the Dental Assisting Program Checklist .

Important: In order to register for this program, you will need to complete a criminal background check, a drug test and show proof of vaccinations. Review the program checklist for more details.

What Can I Do with an Emily Griffith Dental Assisting Certificate?

Graduates from Emily Griffith’s Dental Assisting program have gone on to these jobs:

Chairside Dental Assistant
Dental Front Office Management
Dental Lab Tech Assistant
Dental Insurance
Dental Supply Representative

With additional training graduates of the Dental Assisting program can go on to become an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant, a Dental Hygienist, or even a Dentist.

Health & Wellness

$8,073

Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply

Part Time Program

7 Months

Program length

No upcoming starts available.

Apply to Emily Griffith Technical College

Course Information

Required Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
DEA 101	Dental Terminology	1
DEA 102	Principles of Clinical Practice	3
DEA 104	Specialties in Dentistry	2
DEA 111	Dental Office Management	2
DEA 120	Introduction to Dental Practices	1
DEA 121	Dental Science I	3
DEA 122	Dental Science II	3
DEA 123	Dental Materials I	3
DEA 124	Dental Materials II	3
DEA 125	Dental Radiography	3
DEA 126	Infection Control	3
DEA 131	Advanced Dental Radiography	3
DEA 132	Medical Emerg in Dental Office	2
DEA 134	Prevent/Nutrition Dentistry	3
DEA 181	Internship I: Dental	1
DEA 182	Internship II: Dental	6

DEA 101 Dental Terminology

Includes colloquial versus professional terminology, word elements and structure as they apply to dental terminology.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 102 Principles of Clinical Practice

Includes techniques used in four handed dentistry, instrument identification, and armamentarium for tray set-ups. Covers sterilization and aseptic procedures.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 104 Specialties in Dentistry

Focuses on armamentarium of specific tray set-ups for periodontics, endodontics, and fixed and removable prosthodontics. Examines pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, and implants. Includes diagnosis, treatment, and the dental assistant's role in each specialty.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 111 Dental Office Management

Includes office management and clerical practices, scheduling appointments, completing daily records, insurance and tax forms, bookkeeping and recall systems, and ordering supplies.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 120 Introduction to Dental Practices

Includes roles and responsibilities of the dental health team; educational background for the various specialties including general practitioner, hygienist, dental assistant; history, legal implications, ethical responsibilities and the role of professional organizations

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 121 Dental Science I

Includes fundamentals of the oral structures as they apply oral histology, embryology, morphology, pathology, dental anatomy, and dental charting.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 122 Dental Science II

Includes survey of human anatomy and physiology, the structure of the head and neck as applied to dental assisting, the function of the maxilla and mandible, processes, foramen, sutures, and major nerve and blood supply.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 123 Dental Materials I

Includes survey of human anatomy and physiology, the structure of the head and neck as applied to dental assisting, the function of the maxilla and mandible, processes, foramen, sutures, and major nerve and blood supply.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 124 Dental Materials II

Includes fundamentals of dental materials as they apply to clinical and laboratory applications of hydrocolloid and elastomeric impressions materials, gypsum products, dental waxes, study and final working models, and fabrication of provisional crowns, custom impression trays and bleaching trays.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 125 Dental Radiography

Focuses on the science of radiography, the application of radiographic techniques, and aseptic techniques.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 126 Infection Control

Includes basic information concerning infection and disease transmission in the dental office. Emphasizes knowledge of microorganisms, with an emphasis on aseptic techniques, sterilization, and hazardous communication management.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 131 Advanced Dental Radiography

Includes theory and techniques of exposing intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs on adults, children, edentulous, and special needs patients. Covers dental anatomy radiographic interpretation and aseptic techniques. Enables the student to expose radiographs on the x-ray mannequin and patients. Students must be a minimum of eighteen years of age.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 132 Medical Emerg in Dental Office

Includes techniques for taking and reading vital signs. Emphasizes recognition, prevention, and management of medical emergency situations in the dental office. Covers completing and updating patient health history. Addresses pharmacology.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 134 Prevent/Nutrition Dentistry

Emphasizes techniques in preventive dentistry to include application of fluoride, pit and fissure sealants, oral home care instruction, diet counseling and nutrition as it applies to dental health. Covers techniques for coronal polishing, extra-oral and intra-oral examination, and dental charting.

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 181 Internship I: Dental

Provides an opportunity to perform clinical dental assisting skills in a dental office or clinical setting and work toward completing clinical hours required by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) .

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

DEA 182 Internship II: Dental

Provides an opportunity to perform and advance clinical dental assisting skills in a general dental office, specialty office or clinical setting and work toward completing clinical hours required by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Start Date: No upcoming starts available.

EMILY’S STORIES

"It helped me build my confidence; I know how to conduct myself professionally."

For Jay Wrathrall, coming back to school after 20 years was a daunting decision. “I was really anxious about going back to school at 40 years old.” But he decided to enroll in the GIS program after encouragement from friends and realizing that without additional education, he would continue to hit a wall in whatever industry he worked in.

As a single parent to a 12-year-old son, he needed a program that could fit into his schedule and he didn’t have a lot of money to spend. It became clear very quickly that Emily Griffith was the right choice for him. “I get extra value for my money,” he says.

Now Jay is almost finished with the program and says he has gained a lot of skills that will be useful in whatever career he decides to go into. “It helped me build my confidence; I know how to conduct myself professionally,” he says. “I feel like I’m in a pretty good place.” He gives a lot of the credit to his instructors, Jen Lillis and Donnie Kirk, who he says really made themselves available and gave him the support he needed to succeed!

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