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Dental Assistant
Majors and Programs | Instructors
A dental assistant is an allied health professional who works with the dentist as a chairside assistant or as a business office assistant. Dental assistants are an essential part of the dental health team in the delivery of preventative and restorative dentistry. They work with a variety of people and perform many different tasks. The continuing demand for dental assistants makes this a field with many opportunities for productive careers.The Dental Assistant program at Linn-Benton Community College provides students with theory, performance-based and expanded function skills, and clinical experience. Students gain clinical and expanded function experience utilizing individual stations with anatomical mannequins. The business aspects of a practice are learned through scheduling appointments, keeping accounts and records, and generating statements with computerized dental office software. Students learn to assist dentists in various treatment procedures in the campus dental clinic and in community dental offices. On campus, students provide community members with x-rays, cleaning and fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, and oral health instruction. The instructional facility includes a specially designed six-chair clinic, a dental laboratory with two dental units, a sterilization and x-ray developing area, three separate radiology rooms, and a classroom with a dental chair.
The four-term program begins in the fall of each year. During the first two terms, students observe and assist in a general practice office. Third term students spend time observing specialty practices. Fourth term students work as clinical assistants in dental offices gaining expertise and work experience.
Program Accreditation
LBCC's Dental Assistant program has been fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association since 1971. The Association's most recent site visit was in the fall of 2005.