Program Outcomes

Dental Assistant Program Goals

1. Engage students in activities that support the knowledge and skill development necessary to perform assisting, lab, and expanded functions skills as allowed by the Washington State Dental Practice Act.
2. Provide an opportunity for students to integrate classroom and clinical skills by working with patients in the institute clinic followed by a local area internship in dental offices.
3. Provide students with information and knowledge, and training in human relations, communications, and technical skills in order to secure employment as Certified Dental Assistants.
4. Prepare students to achieve certification by successfully completing the Dental Assistant National Board exams.
5. Prepare students to receive an AAS/AAST degree by successfully completing four mandated 5-credit general education courses.
6. Maintain program approval by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a division of the American Dental Association.

Dental Assistant Program Outcomes

1. Engage students in activities that support the knowledge and skill development necessary to perform chairside assisting, laboratory, and expanded functions skills as allowed by the Washington State Dental Practice Act.
2. Provide an opportunity for students to integrate classroom and clinical skills by working with patients in the college dental clinic.  This experience is followed by weekly worksite learning experiences in a local area general dental office.  The capstone to the clinical experiences is an internship in two different general dental offices.
3. Provide students with information, knowledge, and training in human relations, communications, mathematics, sciences, and technical skills.
4. Prepare students to achieve certification by successfully completing the three Dental Assistant National Board exams (optional).
5. Prepare students to receive an AAS or AAST degree by successfully completing four mandated 5-credit general education courses (optional).
6. Maintain program approval by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a division of the American Dental Association.
7. Demonstrate skills and attitudes that contribute to safe working conditions in the dental office
8. Expose, process, mount, and evaluate diagnostic radiographs.
9. Demonstrate knowledge and skills involved in dental front office operations and procedures.
10. Demonstrate proper sterilizing and disinfecting techniques to meet industry standards (OSHA/WISHA/CDC).
11. Demonstrate ability to assist in and provide first aid/CPR and obtain a First Aid/CPR/BLS for Healthcare Provider card.
12. Obtain HIPAA certification.
13. Obtain a 7-hour HIV/AIDS certification.
14. Understand and apply the basic principles of ethical and jurisprudent practices and procedures.
15. Apply knowledge to make career decisions, demonstrate job seeking skills, and secure employment as a Certified Dental Assistant.
16. Demonstrate knowledge and skill involved in counseling patients in preventive oral hygiene and nutrition and displaying positive human relations skills.
17. Demonstrate knowledge of environmental issues, including bloodborne pathogens, as they relate to infection control and dentistry.

Dental Assisting Program Core Themes - Indicators of Achievement of Objectives

1. Academic Preparation
       A.  Successfully Complete DANB Infection Control Exam
       B.  Successfully Complete DANB Radiology Exam
       C.  Successfully Complete DANB General Chairside Exam
2. Technical Skills Development
       A.  Successfully Complete Practical Assessments
       B.  Successful Internship Completions
       C.  Professional Feedback
3. Community Engagement
       A.  Develop Advisory Committee
       B.  Obtain Volunteer Dental Offices
       C.  Obtain Internship Dental Offices
       D.  Obtain Specialty Dental Offices
       E.  Community Dentists Volunteer in RTC Dental Clinic
       F.  Certified Dental Assistants Volunteer to Work With Students
       G.  Obtain Guest Speakers
       H.  South King County Dental Foundation Projects
       I.    Pre-School Oral Hygiene Commitments
4. Student Success
       A.  Obtain 1st Aid/CPR/Healthcare Provider Certification
       B.  Obtain 7-Hr HIV/AIDS Certification
       C.  Obtain HIPAA Certification
       D.  Obtain Registered Dental Assistant Certificate
       E.  Obtain Certified Dental Assistant Certificate
       F.  Obtain Employment
       G.  Obtain AAS/AAST Degree

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