Dental Assisting

DUTIES OF A DENTAL ASSISTANT

Dental assistants work in a variety of patient care facilities. The duties of a dental assistant can include both office and clinical work. Dental assistants may work chairside as the dentist treats patients or may work in the front office performing office management tasks. Clinical dental assistant duties typically include tasks like preparing patients for treatment, taking and processing dental radiographs, passing dental instruments to the dentist, suctioning to keep the patients' mouths dry, disinfecting instruments and equipment, taking dental impressions, and making dental casts. Dental assistants with office duties typically perform tasks like scheduling and confirming appointments, organizing and filing treatment records, billing patients and insurance companies for treatment, receiving payments, and ordering dental supplies.

Dental assistants are different from dental hygienists, who are always licensed and perform different dental treatment (e.g., dental cleanings). Dental assistants are not required to be licensed in California to work in a dental office, but must be certified in some areas in order to perform certain tasks (e.g., dental radiographs). Also, Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs) tend to earn higher pay due to their formal education and training.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Dental assistants, especially Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs), are in high demand and have a choice of work environments. Dental assistants usually work in private dental offices or clinics. However, there are opportunities for employment in alternative settings such as hospitals, community health programs, or public health institutions.

DENTAL ASSISTING WEB RESOURCES

• www.adha.org - American Dental Hygiene Association
• www.dentalassistant.org- American Dental Assisting Association
• www.cdaaweb.org- California Dental Assisting Association
• www.adea.org/ - American Dental Education Association
• www.comda.ca.gov- Committee on Dental Auxiliaries (RDA, RDAEF, RDH licensing)

Apply to the Dental Assisting Program

Applications can be obtained year-round by calling 805/986-5823.

PREPARATION/ELIGIBILITY

High school diploma or equivalent is needed. Applicants are also strongly recommended to complete a transfer level college English course. A basic ability to converse in Spanish is also beneficial for applicants as the dental clinic serves a large population of Spanish-speaking patients.

Applicants should be aware that RDA licensure requires candidates to be a minimum of 18 years old.

APPLICATION TO THE PROGRAM

To apply:

1. Complete and submit the Oxnard College application*
   *The Online application is available at Oxnard, Ventura, and Moorpark College. The campuses share a common application. You need only apply at one college to be accepted at all three colleges. If you have already applied at any of the colleges within the last year, it is not necessary to reapply.
   
   After completing the above requirements, students must:
2. Enroll in the first semester dental assisting classes (DA R010, R011, R012, R013, R014, & R015)
   Then, enrolled students will be contacted to:
3. Complete and submit the Dental Assisting Program application
4. Submit a completed health data form evidencing good health, including required immunizations/chest x-ray or Mantoux test (form is available through the Dental Department)
5. Become certified or submit proof of certification in CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS)**
   **CPR/BLS certification must be maintained for the duration of the program

SELECTION

Application packets are available year-round. Applicants are not ranked by the program. Registration in dental assisting classes is on a first come, first serve basis; consequently, plan to enroll early.

There is currently no yearly waiting list. Unsuccessful candidates must reapply each year.

CPR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT

A valid adult, child, and infant CPR card including two-person CPR is required to attend the Dental Assisting Program. Courses can be obtained through Oxnard College (Course #HED R010), The American Heart Association, or The American Red Cross. This certification must be kept current throughout the two-semester program

• Catalog description Courses

Important note: clicking on this link will download the entire Oxnard College Catalog (which might take a few moments). You will be taken to the catalog pages for this area of study. If you want to print just these pages you must go to File, Print and then select the page numbers of the range of pages you want to print in order to insure that you do not print the entire catalog.