Dental Assisting

Lawson State Community College

Associate's DegreeAcademic

The Dental Assisting AAS is a 62-credit-hour degree preparing students for careers in general dental assisting. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Provides academic and clinical learning experiences developing knowledge, attitudes, and skills for biological, behavioral, and clinical aspects of dental assisting. Graduates demonstrate clinical competencies, function as dental team members under dentist supervision, and exhibit professional conduct standards for.

Credits

62 credits

Format

In-Person

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Which aid programs apply to this program?

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Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

ORI 101Orientation

1 cr

ENG 101English Composition I

3 cr

CIS 146Computer Applications

3 cr

DAT 100Introduction to Dental Assisting

2 cr

DAT 101Pre-Clinical Procedures I

3 cr

DAT 102Dental Materials

3 cr

DAT 103Anatomy and Physiology for Dental Assisting

3 cr

DAT 104Basic Sciences for Dental Assisting

2 cr

DAT 111Clinical Practice I

5 cr

DAT 112Dental Radiology

3 cr

DAT 113Dental Health Education

2 cr

DAT 116Pre-Clinical Procedures II

3 cr

DAT 120Office Administration for Dental Assisting

3 cr

DAT 122Clinical Practice II

4 cr

DAT 123Dental Assisting Seminar

4 cr

DAT 124Clinically Applied Infection Control and OSHA Standards

1 cr

DAT 131Business and Industrial Psychology for Dental Assisting

1 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Dental Assisting

Lawson State Community College

Associate's DegreeAcademic

Credits

62 credits

Format

In-Person

Eligibility Calculator

Which aid programs apply to this program?

Record Quality Eligibility Calculators

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 31-9091.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionService OrientationMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingWritingActive LearningInstructingCoordinationComplex Problem Solving

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementPersonnel and Human Resources

Abilities

Near VisionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech RecognitionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityArm-Hand SteadinessSpeech ClarityFinger DexterityManual DexterityInductive Reasoning

Tasks

Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or
Record treatment information in patient records.
Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
Record and review patient medical histories.
Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
Complete insurance or other claim forms.

Technology

Medical softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareAccounting softwareBilling and invoicing softwareInventory management softwareWord processing software

Tools

Air abrasion unitsAir compressorsAir/water syringesAmalgam carriersAmalgamatorsApex locatorsArticulatorsAspirating syringesAutoclavesBand seating pliersBench lathesBite blocksBitewing film holdersBursCaries detection aidsAir abrasion equipmentAir-driven dental polishersAngle formersAutoscalarsBite wingsCalculus explorersCaries explorersCavitron equipmentComputer scannersCotton pliersCredit card processing machinesDesktop computersDictaphonesHospital intercom equipmentLaptop computers

Work Values

RelationshipsSupportWorking ConditionsIndependenceAchievementRecognition

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Instrument trays and chairside materials — prepare and manage setup for multiple procedure types with minimal oversight in a busy general dentistry practice.
Electronic health record software — maintain accurate, complete patient treatment records and update medical histories routinely across a full patient schedule.
Dental diagnostic radiography equipment — expose full-mouth series and bitewing x-rays independently, applying appropriate technique adjustments for diverse patient anatomy.
Dental emergency response protocols — assist the dentist in managing common medical and dental emergencies such as syncope or allergic reactions using established office procedures.
Dental supply ordering systems and spreadsheet software — track inventory levels, generate purchase orders, and reconcile deliveries to maintain consistent clinical supply availability.
Postoperative care instructions — communicate procedure-specific recovery guidance clearly to patients with varying health literacy levels in a post-treatment setting.
Plaque control and oral hygiene education — instruct patients on individualized homecare programs, adapting explanations to age and oral health status in a preventive care context.
Patient vital signs data — interpret readings and flag abnormal values to the supervising dentist before treatment proceeds, applying knowledge of common medical contraindications.
Medical software and patient management platforms — navigate scheduling, billing support, and treatment records to ensure smooth daily clinic operations.
Active listening and social perceptiveness skills — recognize and respond to patient anxiety or discomfort during procedures, adjusting communication style to promote cooperation in the dental chair.

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

ORI 101Orientation

1 cr

ENG 101English Composition I

3 cr

CIS 146Computer Applications

3 cr

DAT 100Introduction to Dental Assisting

2 cr

DAT 101Pre-Clinical Procedures I

3 cr

DAT 102Dental Materials

3 cr

DAT 103Anatomy and Physiology for Dental Assisting

3 cr

DAT 104Basic Sciences for Dental Assisting

2 cr

DAT 111Clinical Practice I

5 cr

DAT 112Dental Radiology

3 cr

DAT 113Dental Health Education

2 cr

DAT 116Pre-Clinical Procedures II

3 cr

DAT 120Office Administration for Dental Assisting

3 cr

DAT 122Clinical Practice II

4 cr

DAT 123Dental Assisting Seminar

4 cr

DAT 124Clinically Applied Infection Control and OSHA Standards

1 cr

DAT 131Business and Industrial Psychology for Dental Assisting

1 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.