Students will work on classmates and bring in patients for learning non-invasive procedures such as suctioning and taking impressions. The classroom/lab portion will primarily be held on campus, but also includes field trips and some hybrid distance education days, where the students will be given assignments to do off-site. This is a valuable introduction into the dental field for students interested in becoming chair-side assistants, hygienists, lab technicians, specialty assistants, dentists, product representatives, etc.
The Dental Assisting Externship is completed after the classroom/lab portion of the program. In this segment, the students work on-site at a dental office where the students observe and assist in daily tasks. This gives the students hands-on experience in the industry and a chance to practice the skills they have learned throughout the program.
Students will be responsible to arrange their own externship site, in coordination with the instructor. Students are expected to have at least 15 hours per week during the externship.
The Dental Assisting Program consists of classroom and lab and trains students in all aspects of both clinical chairside assisting as well as an introduction to office administration.
Clinical Chairside includes:
- Chairside and laboratory procedures
- Sterilization
- Preparing instruments/materials for use
- Charting
- Obtaining dental x-rays
- Medical emergency skills
Office Administration includes:
- Introduction to the front office and customer service
- Entering patient records and data
- Privacy of health information
- Basic software knowledge
Certificates and Licensures
- MTECH Program Certificate in Dental Assisting
- Healthcare Provider BLS and First Aid Certification
- OSHA Certification
- Radiology Certification
Program Snapshot
Registration Eligibility: Adults and high school seniors only.
Registration Availability: Registration for Fall 2019 opens April 23, 2019 at 8:00 am online on the MTECH Registration Portal and remains open until classes are full. It is recommended to create your MTECH Student Portal account in advance.
Program Length: 750 Hours or approximately 12 months.
Times: Mornings, Afternoons and Evenings. See schedule details below.
Locations: MTECH Lehi Main, Orem, Spanish Fork and Wasatch West Campuses.
Financial Aid Eligible: This program is eligible for Financial Aid and Veterans Assistance. +Learn More
Articulation Agreements: Completion awards 2 extra points on UVU Dental Hygiene application.
Prerequisites
High School Students: Students should coordinate with home high school counselors prior to registration.
Entrance Assessment: Students must take the MTECH Entrance Assessment. The Entrance Assessment is free and takes about an hour to complete. No appointment is necessary. To learn more visit mtec.edu/testing.
New Student Orientation: Students must complete the brief MTECH New Student Orientation prior to first day of class. To learn more visit mtec.edu/nso.