Dental and Oral Radiography

Program Description

Dental office staff often needs the capability and knowledge to take oral radiographs. This course is part of the Dental Assistant training, but can also be taken on its own if all requirements are met.  Criteria for taking the Oral Radiography stand alone course:  currently employed as a clinical Dental Assistant (employer verification required) or prior completion of a Dental Assistant program (proof of completion required). Please note that in order to take radiographs in the State of Maryland you must be 18 years of age and pass the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.

Program Outcomes

Successful Completion:

CCBC Credential:

Students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate, and will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).  Students will be eligible to take the Radiography certification exam.  Students will be prepared to gain an entry level dental assistant position, and can challenge the Dental Assistant exam with one year’s experience.

Certifying Organization:

Dental Assistant National Board (DANB)

www.danb.org

Financial Aid and Payment Options

Partial Payment Option (through Nelnet Business Solutions)
Continuing Education Opportunity Grant
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

Oral Radiography course: 6-8 weeks

Radiation Safety Update course: 3 weeks

Courses are offered at CCBC Dundalk.

Program Requirements

All students must be computer literate and have Internet access. Clinical eligibility is in part dependent upon a criminal background check and urine drug testing. Cost of the test is the responsibility of the student.

HIPAA Training, CPR and First Aid classes REQUIRE 100% attendance. Students arriving late to class will not be admitted. Late arrival to, or early exit from, class will also result in a failing grade and no refund. Students will then be required to retake the class at their expense.

Students must have the following paperwork turned in to the coordinator PRIOR to the start of clinical:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Students are required to use BlackBoard (an online learning platform) to complete some assignments and tests in the course. Basic computer literacy and internet access is recommended.
• Students must turn in the following paperwork to the program director prior to the start of the program:
  • Negative PPD (six months) or negative chest x-ray less than one year old
  • Positive titer or proof of vaccination/immunity for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
  • Hepatitis B vaccination or declination form
  • Proof of Tetanus shot (less than ten years)

Application Process

Provisional Entry – Prospective students are required to attend an orientation session prior to registration.

Program Course Sequence

Course Information: For students without an oral radiography certification:

Additional Offerings: For students whose oral radiography certification has expired that want to be reinstated.

Additional Information

Skills for Success:
​See Technical Standards at the end of this document.

Career Opportunities:
Entry level dental assistant position.

Career Coach

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

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

Administrative Assistant: 443-840-1887 | Randallstown

Technical Standards

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:
A.    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.

B.    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

C.    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:
A.    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 

B.    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:
A.    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