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The Dental Assisting Certificate is designed to prepare graduates for positions in private dental offices; hospitals; federal, state and municipal health departments; correctional institutions; dental clinics; or in the armed forces. Dental assistants work in a variety of office situations, both specialty and general practice, performing office and clinical assisting duties. Duties can include: assisting the dentist with examinations and fillings; preparing and sterilizing instruments; exposing and organizing radiographs; maintaining infection control; performing laboratory procedures; and performing reception and office management procedures.
The Certificate Program provides the student with opportunities to acquire knowledge in the area of dental terminology, dental materials, radiography, and chairside assisting. Classroom sessions are complemented by planned practical experiences in the On-campus and off-site dental clinic and dental offices.
Department of Dental Hygiene
Professional Organization
Students are required to maintain student membership in the professional organization for dental assistants, The American Dental Assistants’ Association (ADAA), 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1730, Chicago, Illinois, 60601-2211, phone number 312-541-1550 or 877-874-3785, fax 312-541-1496, web address adaausa.org, as part of the program requirements.
Admission to the Dental Assisting Certificate Program
Admission to the Dental Assisting Certificate (DAS) is offered during the Fall and Spring Semester. To begin the program, students must:
- Apply to Owens Community College and complete the admissions process including placement testing.
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- Submit an application for the Dental Assisting Certificate. Preferred deadline for application is June 15th for the Fall Semester enrollment or October 1st for Spring Semester enrollment. Applications can be submitted in the following ways:
- download Dental Assisting Certificate Application.pdf
Email application to dentalassisting@owens.edu.
Mail the application to Dental Hygiene Department at:
Owens Community College
Attention: Dental Assisting Certificate
PO Box 10,000
Toledo, OH 43699
Drop the application off in Health Tech Hall, School of Nursing and Health Professions Dental Hygiene Department Office (HT 224).
- It is recommended that students complete HIT 125 Language of Medicine prior to the first DAS course.
- Earn a total grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher at Owens Community College or the school or college most recently attended (high school, technical program or other college).
- Students must attend mandatory orientation before they can schedule classes.
Admission Requirements
Class Selection Criteria
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18 students are admitted for a Fall Evening Cohort and 18 students are admitted for a Spring Daytime Cohort. The Fall Cohort Health Evaluation Applications are evaluated in May and the Spring Cohort Health Evaluation Applications are evaluated in October.
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Students must have any developmental courses completed in reading to be accepted in the Dental Assisting Certificate.
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Students much have a 2.0 GPA by the end of the 1st Semester and be college ready in reading.
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Students entering the Dental Assistant Certificate must have current certification in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers and meet health requirements.
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Students who do not qualify for admission can reapply in following years. Students may take Arts and Sciences courses as specified by the Dental Assisting Certificate. Upon successful completion of these courses, the students may apply for entrance into the Dental Assisting Certificate. Contact the Academic Advising Office for more information.
Progression/Completion Requirements
Prior to beginning the Dental Assisting Certificate, students must have successfully completed all developmental courses into which they have tested. Developmental courses include: ENG 096 . Completion of health requirements must be done prior to the first day of classes.
Courses follow a specific sequence (cohort) and must be taken together as indicated. Courses within the cohort are offered once per academic year.
Students have a maximum of two years to complete the Dental Assisting Certificate. The two-year completion period begins with enrollment in DAS 101 and DAS 102 . It is extremely important to meet with the Academic Advisor and Program Director to plan your course of study.
All Dental Assisting Certificate students must earn a “C” or better in each program course and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better. Students who do not earn these grades must participate in a mandatory review of their progress with the Program Chair and meet with their Academic Advisor to assess their potential and aptitude to meet program standards and Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB) guidelines. Courses may be repeated one time to meet Dental Assisting Certificate standards.
Academic Readmission
A student who receives a “D” or “F” in a dental assisting course may be readmitted only one time on a space available basis. A student requesting readmission after dismissal for academic reasons (“D” or “F” in a Dental Assisting course) must complete the following before being considered:
The student must complete an academic readmission form. Contact the Academic Advising Office for assistance in the development of a written academic plan to resolve the academic problems.
The following requirements must be included in the academic plan for readmission:
Written notification to the Department Chair of the student’s intention to return to the program at least four months prior to the start of the semester.
A 2.0 overall GPA.
May be required to pass a lab proficiency examination to demonstrate previously acquired skills.
The plan then is submitted to the Department Chair and Dean for approval. This plan must be completed and approved to continue enrollment in the College. Students are readmitted on a space available basis. No second readmission will be considered.
Non-Academic Readmission
Students who leave the Dental Assisting Certificate for other than academic reasons (“D” or “F” in a Dental Assisting course) may request readmission and be readmitted provided there is course seat availability. The Department Chair must be notified in writing of the student’s intention to return to the certificate at least four months prior to the start of the semester.
Health Requirements
Students are required to have a physical exam, including an eye exam, before starting the Fall Semester. Lab exams are required and include: CBC, Urinalysis, RPR/VDRL, Mumps Titer, 2-Step PPD, Diphtheria Toxoid & Tetanus Toxoid, MMR vaccination record or Rubella Titer, Hepatitis B (3part series). Health Requirements must be completed before the start of the semester.
Work Environment
The dental health care worker provides services in an environment that includes blood and saliva. Diseases may be encountered in this type of environment. However, research shows that risks are negligible when appropriate infection control procedure/barrier techniques are used. Upon entering the program, there is in-depth training to meet the protocol for a hazard-free, safe learning environment. Students are required to complete Health Requirements and have CPR certification before entrance into the program.
Clinical Experiences
Owens Community College has a 21 chair Dental Hygiene Clinic. There is a clinical affiliation with the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio located on 2138 Madison Avenue, Toledo, Ohio and 1800 North Blanchard, Suite 122, Findlay, Ohio. Dental Assisting students will work in a dental office and a specialty office as part of the Dental Assisting Practicum. Students will assist Dental Hygiene and EFDA students in the Dental Hygiene Clinic. The Dental Center of Northwest Ohio is also a clinical affiliate. Students will work in a dental office and specialty practice during the Practicum.
Certification
A student completing the Dental Assisting Certificate will be eligible to take the Ohio Dental Assisting Certification Exam which will also enable the student to be a Dental Radiographer. All students are required to sit for the Commission on Ohio Dental Assistant Certification (CODA) State Certification Exam in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB) has restrictions on granting licensure to individuals who have prior felony convictions or mental incompetence. Check the OSDB website for further information.
Associate Degree Options
Students earning a certificate can take Arts and Science courses to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. Meet with an Advisor or the Department Chair for more information.
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