2024-2025 College Catalog

Dental Assisting Diploma

Dental Assisting Diploma (Major Code: DA12)

Program Description

The Dental Assisting accredited program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in today's dental offices. The Dental Assisting program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in the area of dental assisting. Graduates of the program receive a Dental Assisting diploma and are eligible to sit for a national certification examination.

Accrediting Agency
The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). CODA is located at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, (800) 621-8099 or (312) 440-4653.

Programmatic Accreditation

This program was accredited as detailed below until May 13, 2023, at which point Atlanta Technical College voluntarily opted to discontinue CODA accreditation for this program as it not required for Dental Assistants in the State of Georgia.

Career Information

Occupation

Dental Assistants

Career Projections

The number of jobs in this field is expected to increase by 25% nationally and 60% in the State of Georgia over the next several years. Estimated salaries in this field start at $36,000 a year.
Labor market data was compiled using Economic Modeling Specialists, international and is updated annually.

Career Coach

Please select the following link to review additional career information on Career Coach.

Admission Requirements

General College Admissions Requirements

 

Additional Program Admission Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED required
- Must be 18 years of age
- Must be CPR certified from the American Heart Association- Basic LIfe Support (BLS) course before entering the occupational courses.

Blood and Airborne Pathogens

Students enrolled in Category I and II programs at Atlanta Technical College will be performing tasks in which there is a normal occurrence for exposure to blood, other potentially infectious body materials, and airborne pathogens.

These tasks will be performed in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities for each occupational training program/course. Students will be required to present documentation of Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis immunizations as a result of potential occupational exposure. Students should contact their program directors for more information. Policies and procedures regarding blood and airborne pathogens may be reviewed at https://tcsg.edu/tcsgpolicy/tcsg_policy_manual.pdf.

Program Contact Information

Cartrelle Clayton
Dental Assisting Program Director
cclatyon@atlantatech.edu
404-225-4412

Program Length and Cost

Minimum Program Length in Semester Terms: 6 Terms (last 9 months in an externship)

Credit Hours: 55

Estimated Program Cost: $8,910

Required Courses

Curriculum

General Education Courses - (9 Credits)

English Requirement - (3 Credits)

Select one of the following English courses

3

ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I

3

Or

ENGL 1005Applied Technical Communication

3

Math Requirement - (3 Credits)

Select one of the following Math Courses

MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics

3

Or

MATH 1005Applied Technical Mathematics

3

Social/Behavioral Science Requirement - (3 Credits)

PSYC 1010Basic Psychology

3

Occupational Courses (46 Credits)

ALHS 1040Introduction to Health Care

3

COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3

DENA 1010Basic Human Biology

1

DENA 1030Preventive Dentistry

2

DENA 1050Microbiology and Infection Control

3

DENA 1070Oral Pathology and Therapeutics

2

DENA 1080Dental Anatomy

5

DENA 1090Dental Assisting National Board Examination Preparation

1

DENA 1340Dental Assisting I: General Chairside

6

DENA 1350Dental Assisting II: Dental Specialties and EDDA Skills

7

DENA 1390Dental Radiology

4

DENA 1400Dental Practice Management

2

DENA 1460Dental Practicum I

1

DENA 1470Dental Practicum II

1

DENA 1480Dental Practicum III

5

Total Credit Hours: 55

 

Program Outcomes

1. The graduate will be able to prepare dental operatory for dental procedures.
2. The graduate will be able to maintain OSHA standards for infection control.
3. The graduate will be able to prepare patient for dental procedures, reviewing vital signs, medical history and answering questions.
4. The graduate will be able to perform 4-handed dental techniques.
5. The graduate will be able to perform front office duties—file insurance, take payments, schedule appointments.