Dental Assisting Expanded Functions

Program Description

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This course instructs the students in the theory and techniques used to perform general expanded functions approved by the State Board of Dental Examiners, and it prepares them to take the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners General Expanded Functions Examination.   All theory is taught in the classroom.   All clinical training must be signed off by the student’s employing dentist.

Program Outcomes

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Successful Completion:

CCBC Credential:

Students will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript). Students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate. Students will be prepared to take the Maryland General Dental Assisting Expanded Functions Examination.

Certifying Organization:

Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)

www.danb.org

Maryland Board of Dental Examiners
https://health.maryland.gov/dental/Pages/home.aspx

Financial Aid and Payment Options

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Continuing Education Opportunity Grant
Partial Payment Option (through Nelnet Business Solutions)
Tuition Waiver for those who qualify
Employer/Sponsor Paid Tuition
Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
Local Office of Workforce Development
Students may apply for a career training scholarship through Central Scholarship (http://www.central-scholarship.org/)

Program Length

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7 weeks

Program Requirements

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High School Diploma or GED. Must be employed as a dental assistant throughout the duration of the course. Letter from your current dental employer verifying their willingness to supervise your clinical training and attest to your skills.

All students must be computer literate and have Internet access.

Application Process

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Provisional Entry – Verification of dental office experience and current dentist’s agreement to supervise clinical training.

Program Course Sequence

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Course Number	Course Title	Course Hours	Textbook Information (approximate cost; subject to change)	Costs T=Tuition/F=Fees
AHL 754	Maryland General Expanded Functions	42	Modern Dental Assisting; 12th Edition; written by Bird & Robinson; published by Elsevier; ISBN 9780323430302; $103.07	$879 T-$330/F-$549

Additional Information

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Skills for Success:

See Technical Standards at the end of this document.

Career Coach

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Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more.  View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at: https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA .  Explore career and training opportunities at: https://ccbcmd.emsicareercoach.com/.

Program Contact Information

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Coordinator: Beverley Davidson | bdavidson2@ccbcmd.edu | 443-840-2773 | Randallstown

Administrative Assistant: 443-840-1887 | Randallstown

Technical Standards

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Technical Standards for CCBC’S Dental Assistant Training Series

The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Dental Assistant Training Series is to adequately prepare students for an entry-level position as a chair side dental assistant in a dental office.  The duties of a dental assistant require the ability to stand or sit for long periods of time, in sometimes awkward positions, while constantly being focused on the task at hand. Dental assistants need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials, and communicable diseases.  Their duties also require them to be detail oriented and to work accurately and quickly. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and integrity are vital. Following is a partial listing of the types of skills typically required for adequate job performance:

Physical Requirements:

1. Sufficient strength and mobility to:

• Work quickly to meet deadlines and/or production requirements
• Keep hand and arm steady while performing a task with the other hand and arm.

1. Fine motor coordination sufficient to perform precise tasks such as:

• Handle delicate instruments with precision
• Safely handle sharp instruments
• Handle instruments and equipment that may be costly to replace if damaged
• Quickly and precisely adjust controls on equipment
• Perform basic repairs to instrumentation
• Clean and assemble instrumentation

1. Adequate vision to:

• Read and interpret digital or traditional radiographs
• Adequate distinction of colors to read and interpret sterilization indicators
• Read instruction sheets and computer screen  

Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism:

1. Have the ability to:

• Work in a professional manner under sometimes stressful situations
• Pay close attention to detail and recordkeeping
• Commitment to learning and understanding new technologies, instrumentation, and procedures
• Commitment to following approved standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures
• Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds
• Respect and protect patient rights and confidentiality without regard to personal beliefs and judgments
• Maintain proper certifications required to perform the duties of the profession
• Accurately utilize all resource material available to remain current in the profession,
• Maintain a conscience/professional morality in the application of infection control techniques
• Willingness to precept (train) others

1. Sufficient communication skills to:

• Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions
• Carry out all written and verbal instructions
• Follow proper channels of communication
• Communicate in a calm and professional manner
• Communicate clearly and effectively to any team members regarding issues that may be difficult to address (i.e. problem with machinery that could affect sterilization; admission of own errors, etc.)

Intellectual Ability and Emotional Stability To:

• Ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Exercise independent judgment to properly perform tasks at hand
• Accurately utilize all resource material available to perform the task at hand
• Perform duties while exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials 
• Accept feedback from others

Environment Requirements:

1. The dental assisting profession involves risks and/or discomforts that require special safety precautions including, but not limited to:

• Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection
• Working in an environment that exposes one to potentially hazardous materials, such as cleaning agents and chemicals and blood-borne pathogens
• Providing proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella
• Receiving Hepatitis B vaccine and annual testing for exposure to tuberculosis
• Submitting to periodic drug screening