Fall semester classes focus on building skills in basic science, dental materials, pre-clinical procedures (general and specialty), professional orientation, infection control and chemical/hazard communication. Students learn in the state-of-the-art dental clinical facility and dental materials simulation lab.
In Spring semester, students complete classroom studies in dental practice management, preventive dental health education, dental office emergencies, oral pathology, dental pharmacology and radiology. Students also participate in direct patient care two days each week, with the following rotations at the Adams UNC School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill:
Students also receive clinical rotations at East Carolina School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, the Wake County Human Services Dental Clinic, the nonprofit Wake Smiles and the Dental Hygiene Department at Wake Tech. Direct, on-site supervision is provided by Wake Tech Dental Assisting faculty during clinical rotations.
Summer term studies consist of a psychology course and weekly seminar sessions designed to share the previous week's clinical experiences. Topics also covered during seminar sessions include employment preparation (final resume production and mock interview), budgeting and current dental topics in the news. Students provide direct patient care three days per week in general and specialty practices that have an affiliation agreement with the college. Each clinical site received an orientation prior to student assignment. A Dental Assisting faculty member visits each clinical site per week. The identified supervising dental assistant serves as a mentor for the student during these clinical rotations.
| Course number and title | Class | Lab | Clinical | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First semester (hours per week) | ||||
| DEN-100: Basic Orofacial Anatomy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| DEN-101: Preclinical Procedures | 4 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| DEN-102: Dental Materials | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| DEN-111: Infection/Hazard Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| BIO-106: Intro to Anatomy/ Physiology/Micro | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG-111: Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 15 | 12 | 0 | 21 |
| Second semester (hours per week) | ||||
| DEN-103: Dental Sciences | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| DEN-104: Dental Health Education | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| DEN-105: Practice Management | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| DEN-106: Clinical Practice I | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| DEN-112: Dental Radiography | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COM-120: Intro Interpersonal Communications | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 13 | 5 | 12 | 19 |
| Summer term (hours per week) | ||||
| DEN-107: Clinical Practice II | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5 |
| PSY-118: Interpersonal Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 4 | 0 | 12 | 8 |
Total graduation requirement: 48 semester credit hours
Graduates are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become a Certified Dental Assistant. As outlined by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, graduates are classified as a DAII and can perform all delegable functions within the state of North Carolina.
For all official curriculum schedules, see the college catalog.