Dental Assisting

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: Complete a 300-hour clinical internship in a dental office setting. 

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.

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
$7,917
Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply
8 Months
Full-time program length
8/17/2020
Next Start Date
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 101 Dental Terminology

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

Start Date: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 08/18/2020
Instructor: Tonya Robinson
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: 12/07/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 12/09/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 08/17/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 10/05/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 10/14/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 10/06/2020
Instructor: Tonya Robinson
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: 11/12/2020
Instructor: Tonya Robinson
DEA 125 Dental Radiography

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

Start Date: 09/02/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 09/02/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 11/17/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
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: 08/18/2020
Instructor: Tonya Robinson
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: 11/03/2020
Instructor: Roland Martinez
EMILY’S STORIES


“I don’t know where else I could sit in a room with 30 languages, all religions represented, and build a community.”

Katie Pham says she has the best job ever. She’s an English teacher for Emily Griffith teaching at Project Worthmore. “I don’t know where else I could sit in a room with 30 languages, all religions represented, and build a community,” she says. 

Before she started teaching English, she constantly bounced around with different jobs. She started working at Project Worthmore in communications, but when they needed help teaching, she started helping out. First she was just teaching one literacy class a week, but she really enjoyed it. So she took TOESL classes and got certified so that she could start teaching full time. 

She’s been teaching English now for 4 years. “And I haven’t gotten sick of it yet!” she says. 

“A lot of people see the immigrant community and think they need to help–need to be the hero,” says Katie. “But the community here [at Project Worthmore] is helping me as much as I am helping them. I’m learning new things from them all the time. They teach me about their food, their community and they make me laugh!” 

She doesn’t have plans to stop teaching any time soon. “I’ve seen this community flourish in so many ways,” says Katie. And she loves being a part of it. “We need to break down these walls and build these up these communities; we are all just people at the end of the day.” 

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