Program Coordinator
Contact Us
Denise Polk Program Coordinator
Phone: (810) 762-0496
Email: [email protected]
Location: Mott Memorial Building MMB2036C
Related Programs
Associate in Science
Clinical dental assistants are directly involved in patient care, working with dentists, and as expanded functions dental assistants, who provide certain intraoral procedures. Michigan requires both education and licensure for those persons performing expanded functions on patients. Graduates of this program will complete requirements that qualify them to take the Michigan State Board Examination for licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and the National Board Examination to be a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). This program is accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and the State of Michigan.
A degree in Dental Assisting offers many career opportunities. Career Coach allows you to explore different career options for the degree you are pursuing. You can even take a look at each job title to see an in-depth overview, salary, job growth, and live job postings.
Degree Pathways outline one possible sequence of courses students may complete to fulfill their degree requirements as full-time students over the course of two years.
Dental students are, and will be, frequently exposed to blood, body tissues or fluids; sharps such as needles, scissors and instruments; exposure to varying temperatures; dust, latex, high humidity; radiation; other hazardous human or industrial waste materials and chemicals may occur.
To enter the dental assisting program applicants must:
Conviction of a criminal offense may make graduates of the Dental Assisting Program ineligible to take their licensure (RDA) examination. All applicants for a health profession license or registration in Michigan are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal background check. In addition, some clinical sites require students to complete criminal background checks and submit to drug screening procedures prior to the clinical experience. All background checks and drug screenings are at the student's expense
During the dental externship experience students are in community dental offices. The student is expected to work the hours of the office and to provide their own transportation to and from the office.