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 simultaneously with the classroom/lab portion but usually is not completed until afterwards. 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 while doing the externship in Term 4. After the grading period, students complete their externship at their own pace, but it must be completed by July 31st.
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:
- Front office soft skills and customer service
- Entering patient records and data
- Privacy of health information
- Basic software knowledge
- Dental Assisting
- Program Hours: 750 hours
- Campus Location: MTECH Lehi Main, Orem, Spanish Fork and Wasatch West Campuses.
Certificates and Licensures
- MTECH Program Certificate in Dental Assisting
- Healthcare Provider BLS (CPR) and First Aid Certification
- OSHA Certification
- Radiology Certification
- Utah State Skills Certification
Program Snapshot
Registration Eligibility: Adults and high school seniors only.
Registration Availability: Registration for Fall 2021 opens April 20, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. online on the MTECH Student 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 or 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
Note about Dental Hygiene Programs: If a student has earned an MTECH certificate in Dental Assisting, some dental hygiene programs will award points to their application, and/or consider knowledge and externship experience towards acceptance into their dental hygiene program.
Prerequisites
High School Students: Students should coordinate with home high school counselors prior to registration.
Prerequisites: Students are required to take the MTECH Entrance Assessment and score a passing rate of: Math: 2: English: B or provide alternative documentation to prove competency. The Entrance Assessment is free and takes about an hour to complete. 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.
Schedule
| SECTION | LOCATION | ROOM | START | END | START | END | DAYS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | Lehi | 212 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | M-F |
| Fall 2021 | Lehi | 212 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 11:30 AM | 2:30 PM | M-F |
| Fall 2021 | Lehi | 212 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | M-F |
| Fall 2021 | Spanish Fork | 118 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | M-F |
| Fall 2021 | Spanish Fork | 118 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 11:45 PM | 2:45 PM | M-F |
| Fall 2021 | Wasatch West | 221 | 8/17/2021 | 4/5/2022 | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | M-F |
| Spring 2022 | Orem | 110 | 1/3/2022 | 8/19/2022 | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | M-F |
| Spring 2022 | Orem | 110 | 1/3/2022 | 8/19/2022 | 11:30 AM | 2:30 PM | M-F |
Note: Students will have some hybrid days with assignments that take place off campus. These assignments are considered class for the day.
Tuition and Fees
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | $40.00 | |
| Program Fees | $450.00 | Includes facilities fee |
| Tuition | $1,575.00 | |
| total: | $2,065.00 | All tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. |
Note: Tuition is waived for High School students.
Materials and Supplies
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern DA Bundle | $169.00 | ISBN: 978-0323624855 (13th Edition) |
| DA Instrument Pocket Guide | $55.00 | ISBN: 978-0323672436 (7th Edition) |
| DA Training Modules | $35.00 | August 2020 edition |
| TB Test | $20.00 | Depends on facility. Ranges from $5-$20. |
| Hepatitis B (Series 3) | $120.00 | $40 each, or bring proof these immunizations have been received. |
| Dental Convention | $0.00 | Registration is included in fees; This is a two-day event in Salt Lake City; parking and food is extra |
| Scrubs | $48.00 | Available in MTECH Bookstore; cost is for two sets |
| total: | $447.00 |