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Dental Assisting

The dental assistant is an integral member of the oral healthcare team, performing procedures at chair side, in the laboratory and the dental business office. Students who complete the program possess the knowledge and understanding of the legal, ethical and professional standards of dental assisting along with clinical skills to function in general and specialty dental practices.

Dental Assisting

Dental AssistingPrepare for Success as a Dental Assistant

Our dental assisting curriculum covers advanced subject material and provides the opportunity to:

  • Take dental assisting courses from knowledgeable faculty who have years of experience within the profession.
  • Attend classes designed for individualized instruction.
  • Participate in clinical rotations that provide invaluable workplace experience, an increase in student knowledge base, and the opportunity to build working relationships within the community.
  • Develop strong critical thinking, communication, and professional skills.

97% of our graduates earn an Associate of Science degree along with a Certificate of Dental Assisting

95% of our graduates become Certified Dental Assistants

100% of our graduates are able to obtain employment in a dental office

The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. 

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Dental Assisting Programs

USI's Dental Assisting program offers the unique opportunity to receive a Certificate of Dental Assisting after one year with the option of completing an Associate of Science degree in year two.

Pre-requisite Courses (8 hours)

ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I - Literacy and the Self credits: 3
CMST 101 - Introduction to Public Speaking OR CMST 107 - Interpersonal Communication credits: 3
HP 115 - Medical Terminology credits: 2

Required Coursework (33 hours)

DTAS 111 - Oral Pathology credits: 1
DTAS 122 - Clinical Science I credits: 5
DTAS 144 – Introduction to Dental Specialties credits: 1
DTAS 156 - Human Systems I credits: 3
DTAS 158 - Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence credits: 2
DTAS 166 - Human Systems II credits: 3
DTAS 175 - Preventive Dentistry credits: 2
DTAS 177 – Dental Assisting Skills Laboratory credits: 2
DTAS 181 - Clinical Science II credits: 6
DTHY 303 - Oral Radiology credits: 3
DTHY 308 - Applied Dental Materials credits: 3
DTHY 314 - Oral Anatomy credits: 2

Optional Elective (3 hours)

DTAS 291 – Expanded Functions Dental Assisting credits: 3

The Associate of Science degree is available to certificate program graduates who complete a second academic year.

Of the 60 hours required to graduate with an Associate of Science degree, 25 hours must be Core 39 courses. At the completion of the dental assisting certificate curriculum, the student will have earned 41 hours (six of the 41 credits are Core 39 courses).

Nineteen additional hours of Core 39 courses are needed to graduate with an Associate of science degree in dental assisting. The 19 Core 39 hours can be selected from the following categories:

Foundations Composition credits: 3
Foundations Mathematics credits: 3-4
Ways of Creative and Aesthetic Knowing Expression credits: 3
Ways of Historical Knowing Inquiry credits: 3
Ways of Moral and Ethical Knowing Reasoning credits: 3
Ways of Scientific and Knowing Mathematical Inquiry credits: 3
Ways of Social Knowing Inquiry credits: 3
Ways of World Languages Knowing and Culture credits: 3
Natural Science (with at least one lab) credits: 8-9

For information about tuition, fees and other costs, visit our Financial Aid Cost of Attendance page. 

Once accepted into the Dental Assisting Program, there are additional costs for textbooks, certification exams, uniforms, CPR certification, American Dental Assistants Association membership and supplies.

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Dental Assisting

(812) 461-5395