Dental Assisting (12600.CT)

School of Allied Health and Public Safety

Merced College’s Dental Assisting Program offers a direct path to one of the fastest-growing careers in healthcare. In just 10 months (two semesters, four 8-week sessions), students gain the skills and confidence to begin work as professional dental assistants.

The program provides 1,080 hours of hands-on training, combining classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical experience. Students learn preventive, radiographic, clinical, and administrative procedures essential to support dentists, dental hygienists, and dental office operations.

Training covers:
• Clinical and administrative duties, including patient records and office support

• Quality patient care and chairside assisting

• Infection control and sterilization procedures

• Radiology principles and techniques

• Coronal polishing and dental impressions

• Instrumentation and isolation techniques

• Manipulation of dental materials

• Fabrication of temporary crowns, temporary cementation, and placement of fillings

Before graduation, students complete a 216-hour externship at an off-site dental facility, where they apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

Upon completion of the program, students will receive five Dental Board certificates in addition to being prepared for entry-level employment as dental assistants. Graduates leave with the skills, certifications, and professional foundation needed to succeed in today’s dental healthcare environment.

A Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting can be obtained by completing the required 32-unit curriculum listed below with a minimum grade of a “C” (or P) in each course in the certificate and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Start your journey toward a rewarding dental career at Merced College today.

Program Information:

To ensure compliance with health, safety, and regulatory standards established by the Dental Board of California and affiliated clinical sites, students seeking enrollment in the Dental Assisting Certificate of Achievement program must provide documentation of the following:

• Current CPR certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers.

• Tuberculosis screening: Negative TB skin test or equivalent screening.

• Live Scan fingerprint clearance: Must be completed and cleared prior to enrollment.

• Proof of education: Completion of a 12th-grade education or equivalent (high school diploma, GED, or higher degree).

• Age requirement: Students must be 18 years of age or older at the time of enrollment.

• Pregnancy restriction: Students who are pregnant are not permitted to enroll in courses involving radiographic procedures or clinical exposure due to potential health and safety risks to both the student and the fetus.

The program consists of a structured, full-time sequence of courses offered over two semesters (10 months), divided into four 8-week sessions. Students must complete all required courses with a grade of “C” or better and meet all clinical, laboratory, and attendance requirements to be eligible for program completion and state certification.
Prior to beginning clinical or externship components, students must ensure all prerequisites above are met. The program’s curriculum includes classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical experience in areas such as:

• Chairside dental assisting procedures

• Dental radiography

• Infection control and sterilization

• Dental materials and laboratory applications

• Coronal polishing and pit & fissure sealants

• Clinical practice and externship experience

Upon completion, students will be eligible to apply for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) examinations and receive the required Dental Board certificates, preparing them for immediate entry into the dental workforce.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

A.      Demonstrate clinical competence in chairside assisting, dental radiography, infection control, and specialty procedures in compliance with the California Dental Practice Act.

B.      Apply professional, ethical, and legal standards of practice while communicating effectively with patients, staff, and dental team members.

C.      Perform administrative and business office duties including scheduling, record management, financial transactions, and insurance claim processing using current dental software systems.

D.      Integrate classroom, laboratory, and clinical knowledge in supervised externship experiences to provide safe, effective, and patient-centered dental care.

Visit the Program Mapper for more information on when to take classes and career information.

Program Requirements:

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