Dental Assisting Professional Certificate

Overview

Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. If you have strong communication skills, enjoy working with your hands as well as your mind and want a career with responsibility, dental assisting is for you.

Why NHTI?

Our Dental Assisting Program strives to create a learning environment in which each student is instilled with the knowledge, skills, and values to provide comprehensive educational, preventive, and therapeutic services which reflect the competencies vital to the profession of dental assisting.

• In August 2018, Washington Monthly ranked NHTI’s Dental Assisting Program seventh in the nation in its study, “America’s Best and Worst Colleges for Vocational Certificates.”

• NHTI’s Dental Assisting Program is the only program in New Hampshire that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
• This one year program offers students an excellent opportunity to become involved in a health care profession as a member of the dental team in private dental offices, public dental clinics,and institutions.
• Dental assistants are in high demand in New Hampshire with great job opportunities after graduation from the program.
• NHTI will prepare you to take the National exam for Certification for Dental Assistants.

This program is financial aid eligible. 

NHTI “is a great program for dental assistants to learn because of the hands-on work and experience we get at our externships out in the field”.

Amber Ramsden, Dental Assisting Certificate

Dental Assisting Professional Certificate

Mission

In conjunction with the NHTI’s mission statement, the Dental Assisting program strives to provide a learning environment in which each dental assisting student is instilled with the knowledge, skills and values to offer the most comprehensive educational, preventive, and therapeutic services reflecting the competencies vital to the profession of dental assisting.

Program Goals

1. To prepare students for all aspects of employment in a dental assisting career, including traditional and non-traditional settings, working with diverse multicultural populations.
2. To encourage students in the development of leadership skills to facilitate the advancement of dental assisting in all areas of the dental assisting profession.
3. To promote critical thinking within a quality curriculum to invite students to pursue advanced degrees and value lifelong learning.
4. To guide students in the discovery of global perspectives and the achievement of self-esteem, to adapt to the social needs of self and society.
5. To aid students in the formation of collaborative skills to work with multi-disciplined health terms in a changing profession.
6. To instill in students the value of community services.
7. To act as a resource center and to provide continuing education to the professional community.

Competencies for the Dental Assisting Program

The NHTI Dental Assisting Program prepares students to provide patient care in a variety of clinical settings and to be active members of the dental healthcare team. In order to successfully complete the NHTI Dental Assisting Program, the dental assisting student must demonstrate an accepted level of performance by meeting specific learning outcomes.

Students who complete the Dental Assisting Program should be able to:

1. Perform basic chairside procedures in a general or specialty practice.
2. Perform basic clinical/laboratory support procedures
3. Practice Universal precautions and safety standards consistent with OSHA guidelines.
4. Perform emergency procedures.
5. Provide oral health instruction.
6. Perform basic business office procedures.
7. Perform advanced intraoral functions that may be delegated to a Dental Assistant in the State of New Hampshire.
8. Exhibit professionalism and communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.

Specific Admission Requirements

Preference will be given to applicants whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than March 5, 2021 for Fall 2021 admission (with the exception of the interview). Applications received after the deadline will only be considered if space remains in the program after the on-time, qualified candidates have been reviewed.

1. A course in high school science (biology or chemistry), or the equivalent, must have been completed with a minimum grade of “C”;
2. An informational group interview with the Dental Admissions Committee is required; qualified candidates will be contacted after the deadline to arrange an interview;
3. Observe professional practices in a dental office for a period of not less than twenty (20) hours; please submit the completed Observation Form to the NHTI Admissions Office no later than the application deadline. Please note: the observation is only valid for 2 years. (Dental office employees are not required to complete the hours of observation, but are required to complete and submit the form.)
4. Also, see Health, Character, and Technical Standards Tab for additional requirements.

Please Note: Students who wish to enter the Dental Assisting program and are currently enrolled in another NHTI program must complete and submit the Change of Program form prior to the application deadline listed above. Departmental signatures will not be required for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters due to COVID-19.

Transfer Information

• Transferring to other institutions
• Transferring to NHTI

Qualifications for Dental Assistants in NH

Compared to non-accredited programs in the state our graduates are legal to take x-rays, place sealants, take impressions, remove sutures and place and remove periodontal packs, do coronal polishing, apply fluoride treatments, monitor nitrous oxide, expanded duties orthodontics, make provisional crowns, place and remove rubber dams and apply desensitizing right after completion of the program.

Careers

• Variety- Dental Assisting is a challenging and rewarding career, demanding versatility and a willingness to assume responsibility.
• Flexibility-Since dental assistants are in demand, career options include both full-time and part-time positions.
• Excellent working conditions: Dental offices are interesting, pleasant, people-oriented environments in which to work.
• Personal satisfaction-Dental Assisting involves people contact and with this personal interaction comes the personal satisfaction of knowing you’ve already helped someone by helping to provide a valuable health service.

The student will be able to further their career in the Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Program (EFDA) certificate program here at NHTI.

The salary of a dental assistant depends primarily upon the responsibilities associated with the specific position and the geographic location of employment. Dental assistants earn salaries equal to other health care personnel with similar training and experience such as medical assistants, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, veterinary technicians and pharmacy assistants.

American Dental Association website visited 10/30/19

Please visit State of NH for  more information.

Accreditation

Our program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. 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. The Commission’s web address is: http//www.ada.org/en/coda

Externship

When you graduate from the NHTI Dental Assisting Program you are qualified in New Hampshire to perform expanded duties such as: coronal polishing, sealants, expanded orthodontic duties, taking x-rays, monitoring nitrous oxide, fluoride treatments, creating provisional crowns, and more.

NHTI has developed excellent practicum opportunities for our students to foster hands-on-learning while simultaneously receiving credit. By attending our program you will develop the knowledge and skills of a dental assistant in a challenging and rewarding career. Requirements are met by assisting in a variety of dental offices including general and specialty practices.

As a student in internship, externship, practicum, service learning and clinical experience you must demonstrate sufficient emotional stability to withstand the stresses that characterize the dental professionals’ responsibilities with patient/agency clients. You will exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships and confidentiality on all levels.

NHTI Clinical/Practicum/Internship policy

Health, Character and Technical Standards

Students must be aware of the abilities and characteristics that are necessary to complete the dental assisting program requirements and function as a dental assistant. NHTI does not discriminate in the administration of its admissions and educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or marital status. The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 established that reasonable accommodations be provided to students with disabilities. Under the law, reasonable accommodations will be made for eligible students with disabilities to the extent there is no fundamental alteration to curriculum, course objectives, or health, character and technical standards of the course. Failure to consistently exhibit the technical standards for a career in dental assisting may result in dismissal from the dental assisting program.

The NHTI, Concord’s Community College Professional Certificate of Dental Assisting is awarded to those who successfully complete and prove competence in all program requirements. Therefore, the student must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviors deemed essential for the practice of dental assisting. The following technical standards describe the essential skills a student must possess in the areas of intellect, sensory function, communication, fine and gross motor function and behavior.

In order to assume the responsibilities and perform the duties of a dental assistant, individuals must be able to satisfactorily possess the following:

1. Intellectual abilities requiring reason, analysis, problem solving, critical thinking, self-evaluation and lifelong learning skills are required. Students must be able to learn, integrate, analyze and synthesize data. Comprehension of three-dimensional and spatial relationships is necessary. Consistent, accurate and quick integration of information is required, especially in emergency situations.
2. Somatic sensation and functional use of all senses is required. Students must be able to observe demonstrations at a distance and close at hand. Students must be able to see fine detail and focus at several distances. The student must be able to discern variations in color, shape and texture in order to differentiate normal and abnormal signs and symptoms. The student must possess sufficient hearing to assess patient needs and communicate effectively with coworkers. The student must have sufficient eyesight to observe patients, operate dental equipment, including dental x-ray machines. The student must possess visual acuity (correctable) to work with small measurements and instruments in preparing and manipulating dental materials.
3. Ability to sit chair-side for a sustained length of time with frequent reaching and turning.
4. Sufficient fine and gross motor function is required to safely perform intraoral instrumentation, manipulation of small objects, equipment, tools, and materials. Student must possess gross motor ability to perform functions such as basic life support, transfer, and position of patients as well as operate around the patient and dental chair. Able to operate both foot and hand controls.
5. Students must be able to communicate effectively with patients, peers, faculty and guests. Individuals must have sufficient command of the English language in order to retrieve information from textbooks, lectures, exams, etc. Students must be able to communicate in verbal, nonverbal and written form.
6. Students must possess the emotional health required to exercise good judgment and prompt completion of all responsibilities associated with patient care. Professionalism, compassion, integrity, empathy, and respect for patients are all personal qualities that are necessary for the dental assistant. Students must be able to endure physically taxing workloads and function under stress. A student must be able to accept constructive criticism and respond appropriately by modifying behavior.

Failure to consistently exhibit the technical standards for a career in dental assisting may result in dismissal from the dental assisting program.

Use of Computers in the Allied Dental Education Programs

Allied Dental Education students will be using computers throughout their programs. Faculty will be instructing them in the application of dental software, as well as the use of conventional software to generate papers, do oral presentations and spreadsheets. To make this process easier for students, it is strongly recommended that they have a good working knowledge of computers before entering the program. Computer literacy courses, such as IST 102C, are available through the college.