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Dental Assisting

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Program Overview

The Dental Assisting program prepares you to assist a dentist at chair side, perform receptionist and clinical functions, and carry out selected dental laboratory work as a dental assistant. You will gain knowledge and skills in:

  • Dental terminology
  • Preventative and oral health education
  • Oral and dental anatomy
  • Digital dental radiography
  • Dental procedures
  • Computerized charting and record keeping
  • Dental equipment and materials
  • Infection control

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

  • Dental Clinic: Train in the state-of-the-art clinic featuring 25 patient chairs, computerized patient record software, and a complete digital X-ray system under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental professionals.

  • Clinical: Gain 320 hours of real-world work experience ensuring you have the skills you need to succeed in your future career.

Certification and Licensure

Graduates are eligible to take the national and state/regional examinations for dental assisting registration. A social security number is required to take the exams and apply for licensure.

See our State Licensure Google Sheet to identify the states in which Hawkeye's Dental Assisting program requirements fulfill the state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.

Licensure and Certification Disclosure

Accreditation

The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Allied Dental Professions graduates are eligible to take necessary Examinations of their choice. Successful completion of board examinations is required to receive a license to practice in the State of Iowa.

Commission on Dental Accreditation
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-4653

www.ada.org/en/coda

Policy on Third Party Comments [pdf]

Board Pass Rates

Total Students in Program: 15

* No report yet available

Examination
Dental Assisting National Board Certified Dental Assisting Exam
(Not required by Iowa)
 Taken *
Passed *
Iowa Dental Board Radiology
(Required by Iowa)
 Taken 15
Passed 15 (100%)
Iowa Dental Board Infection Control
(Required by Iowa)
 Taken 15
Passed 15 (100%)
Iowa Dental Board Jurisprudence for Iowa License
(Required by Iowa)
 Taken 15
Passed 15 (100%)
Job Placement as of July 1, 2019 14 (93 %)

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Perform general office procedures

  2. Identify structures and functions of dental and general anatomy

  3. Manage dental instruments and equipment

  4. Apply principles of microbiology and disease prevention to infection control procedures

  5. Recognize the functions of pharmacology and anesthesia as they relate to dentistry

  6. Perform chairside assisting and intraoral functions

  7. Administer dental office emergency care, vital signs, and CPR

  8. Complete radiographic and other imaging science procedures

  9. Manipulate dental materials according to manufacturer's properties and specifications

  10. Implement principles of preventive dental care

  11. Apply the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the dental professional

  12. Demonstrate professional characteristics of an entry-level dental employee

  13. Recognize various oral diseases and systemic manifestations

  14. Identify the eleven identified specialty areas of dentistry and their respective principles and procedures

  15. Demonstrate technological improvements and their relationship to the dental setting

Program Learning Outcomes / Program Goals

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

  1. Provide a safe environment for patients and dental staff.

  2. Apply evidence-based theory in dental procedures to meet the needs of the population served.

  3. Perform administrative, chairside, clinical, radiographic, imaging sciences, and laboratory procedures.

  4. Promote and participate in preventive dental care.

  5. Demonstrate professionalism and ethics in reference to the current practice act.

  6. Pursue continuing education for lifelong career success and advancement.

  7. Successfully complete the required examinations for certification according to current practice acts.

Program Purpose Statement

The dental assisting program empowers students to serve as a clinical dental team member, perform various administrative and clinical functions, and complete assigned dental laboratory work as an entry-level dental assistant. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will utilize their gained skills to strengthen surrounding businesses, enrich their communities, and improve the quality of life in the populations they serve.

At A Glance
Award
  • Diploma
Length of Study 1 year
Program Start Fall
Tuition-Free Eligible

This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition.

Students must apply for, be awarded, and meet the ongoing eligibility requirements for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.
 

Graduate Spotlight
Molly Lee

Molly Lee grew up in southeastern Minnesota, but when she began researching dental assisting and dental hygiene programs, it quickly became clear the place to go was Hawkeye Community College.

"I came and visited here, and I just fell in love right away," she said. "I loved all the facilities and the transition from being in a small [high] school, so I thought it would be a really good fit."

Now that she's graduating, she’s excited to enter the workforce and follow in her sister's footsteps.

"She's actually a dental assistant now," Molly said. "I kind of always looked up to her."

Graduate Spotlight
Krista Ries

A trip to the orthodontist as a kid is what first sparked Krista Ries' interest in the dental field.

"What are you doing that for? What tool is that? — I just started asking questions at a young age," she recalls. "It sprung an interest in me."

She came to Hawkeye for Dental Hygiene, based on the strong reputation the program enjoys across the region. While waiting for a seat in the Dental Hygiene program, Krista decided to enroll in its sister program: Dental Assisting.

"I'm a very hands-on visual learner," she said. "I wanted to do the skills, learn them, to try and figure them out myself at my own hands… The instructors are great with helping you navigate that."

Graduate Spotlight
Brianne Martin

Brianne Martin knew she wanted to do something in the medical field, but it wasn't until she spent time shadowing a family friend that she decided dental hygiene was for her. She first completed her Dental Assisting degree, and now she’s finishing Dental Hygiene and a bachelor's in public health from Allen. "The most rewarding part is being able to get so much out of the five years I've been here," she said. "I was able to get three degrees in five years."

Graduate Spotlight
Alyssa Hertges

Alyssa Hertges did her research before coming to Hawkeye Community College. The Decorah native quickly learned Hawkeye was the place to go for Dental Hygiene. Seats in the program were in high demand, so she started in Dental Assisting, gaining many crossover skills that complemented both fields. Now a double Hawkeye graduate, she's already thinking about returning someday as an instructor. "I want everybody to experience something that they love doing."

Program Pathway

Dental Assisting Diploma

Program Details

Award Diploma
Credits 47
Program Start Fall
Number of Terms 3
Time to Complete 1 year
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Dental Assisting – Diploma
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1
  • Chairside Assisting I
  • Dental Anatomy
  • Dental Materials I
  • Dental Radiography
  • Orientation to Dental Assisting
Term 2
  • Assisting Clinic I
  • Chairside Assisting II
  • Dental Materials II
  • Dental Office Procedures
  • Dental Sciences
  • Dental Specialties
Term 3 – Summer
  • Dental Assisting Clinic II
  • Dental Assisting Seminar

Dental Assisting program students are required to complete background screenings, including a criminal background check, sex offender registry, child abuse registry, and dependent adult registry before participating in clinicals. The outcome could possibly affect your opportunities to participate in the clinical setting.

Students are asked to produce their own patients for two radiology projects in Term 2 of the program.

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

You have completed the Dental Assisting diploma program. Check out the Health continuing education courses to keep up to date in your profession.

Careers

Positions

Graduates can be employed in many dental career areas, including:

  • Private or group practice
  • General dentistry or specialty practices
  • Dental schools
  • Federal government dental facilities

Example Careers and Average Wages
Entry Average Experienced
Dental Assistants $34,500 $44,400 $49,300

Source: 2022 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Employers

The following is a partial list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:
Business Location
Delta Dental of Iowa Johnston, IA
Dental Associates of Manchester Manchester, IA
Henry Schein Dental Melville, NY
Iowa Department of Public Health Des Moines, IA
Kimball & Beecher Family Dentistry Waterloo, IA
Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. Des Moines, IA
Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. Waterloo, IA

Program Admission

STEP #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.

  2. Send official transcripts to Admissions.

Step #2: Program Admittance Score Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Dental Assisting program, all students must meet minimum score requirements in literacy. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
ACCUPLACER Next Generation ACCUPLACER Classic COMPASS ACT GPA
Literacy 239 Reading or
240 Writing		 58 Reading or
64 Sentence Skills		 69 Reading or
41 Writing		 16 Reading or
16 English		 2.25

ACCUPLACER Next Generation and ACT can be taken at Hawkeye. ACCUPLACER Classic and COMPASS are no longer offered, but if you've taken either in the past your test scores can be used for program admittance.

STEP #3: Program Acceptance

Applicants successfully demonstrating college readiness criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants falling short of successful demonstration of college readiness criteria will be accepted to a Pre-Program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts
Admissions
Email Admissions 319-296-4000 Hawkeye Center 114
Dental Administrative Chair
Emily Boge Email Emily Boge 319-296-4302 Grundy Hall 124
Academic/College Success Advisor
Kelly Kobliska Email Kelly Kobliska 319-296-4014 ext.1624 Hawkeye Center 208F
Faculty Advisor
Judy Poland Email Judy Poland 319-296-2329 ext.1352 Grundy Hall 129

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