Dental Assisting

Dental Assisting Program

MCC Dental Assisting students performing chairside techniques in the Evergreen Park dental lab. 

Midwestern Career College’s Dental Assisting program prepares individuals to work as Dental Assistants in Chicago, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn and the surrounding communities under the supervision of dentists and dental hygienists.

The program includes instruction in medical record-keeping, general office duties, reception and patient intake, scheduling, equipment maintenance and sterilization, basic radiography, pre- and post-operative patient care and instruction, chairside assisting, taking tooth and mouth impressions, and supervised practice.

Did you know? One of MCC’s partners is TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence. The TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence is a first-of-its-kind facility, providing cutting-edge comprehensive dental care at no cost to underserved Illinois residents. Learn more

Program Goals

The dental assisting program utilizes criteria based on clinical practices related to Certified Dental Assisting/Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

What Do Dental Assistants Do?

Duties include but are not limited to: dental charting, infection control, radiography, dental materials, restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, pharmacology and pain control, medical and dental emergencies, oral evacuation and instrument transfer, law and ethics, and dental office management.

The dental assistant may also be responsible for chairside instrumentation, equipment safety and reception activities.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• take dental radiographs (x-ray photographs);
• prepare patients and equipment for dental procedures;
• discharge office administrative functions and medical record-keeping;
• maintain equipment and sterilization;
• provide chairside assisting;
• take tooth and mouth impressions.

Certification:

MCC’s Dental Assisting program prepares students to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification.

Externship:

300 total hours of externship are included in the program.

Career Outlook:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (B.L.S.),  dental assistant employment is expected to grow by 8% from 2023–2033, which is classified as faster than average. The B.L.S. also has information on career outlook for dental assistants. 

Disclosures

• Consumer Information
• U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• The Occupational Information Network (O*NET)
• Tuition and Fees

More on dental assisting

• Dental Assisting
  • About the Dental Assisting Career
  • Dental Assisting Information and Resources

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