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Dental Assisting

The dental assisting program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accrediatation.

Mission Statement of Commission on Dental Accreditation:

The Comission of Dental Accreditation serves the public by establishing, maintaining and applying standards that ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dental related education and reflect the evolving practice of dentistry.  The scope of the Commission on Dental Accrediation encompasses dental, advanced dental and allied dental education programs.

Degree:

Certificate 

Academic Features:

The dental assisting program is a one year, 33 credit hour program, commencing in August and completing the following August.  Classes meet Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m in the Dunes Medical / Professional Building.  All students must receive a grade of C or better in each of the courses to be eligible for graduation. 

A total of 33 credit hours must be completed which include:

• H214 - Oral Anatomy (3 credit hours)
• A112 - Medical and Dental Emergencies and Dental Therapeutics (2 credit hours)
• A121 - Microbiology and Asepsis Techniques (2 credit hours)
• A171 - Clinical Science I (5 credit hours)
• A131 - Dental Materials I (2 credit hours)
• A111 - Oral Pathology, Physiology and Anatomy I (2 credit hours)
• A113 - Oral Pathology, Physiology and Anatomy II (1credit hour)
• A172 - Clinical Science II (5 credit hours)
• H217 - Preventive Dentistry (2 credit hours)
• H242 - Introduction to Dentistry (1 credit hour)
• A161 - Behaviorial Science (1 credit hour)
• H303 - Radiology I (2 credit hours)
• H224 - Oral Histology and Embryology (1 credit hour)
• A132 - Dental Materials II (2 credit hours)
• A162 - Oral and Written Communications (2 credit hours)
• A182 - Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence (2 credit hours)
• A152 - Radiology Clinic II (1 credit hour)

Program Special Feastures:

The Dental Assisting Program at Indiana University Northwest is fully accredited.  A graduate of the program is eligible for the Dental Assisting National Board Examination.  Upon successful completion of the examination, the graduate earns the title:  Certificate Dental Assisting (CDA) 

Graduates of the Dental Assisting Certificate Program can pursue an Associate and/or Baccalaureate Degree in General Studies through the Division of Continuing Studies.

Accreditations:

Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accreditation body recognized by the Council of Post Secondary Education and by the United States Department of Education.  

Career Options:

Employment opportunities are available in private dental practice (general or specialty), hospitals, educational institutions, business, and federal, state and community clinics.