Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)

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A.A.S. Degree: 61 Hours

The dental assisting profession offers a variety of career opportunities in a general or specialty dental offices. Dental assistants often spend much of their day working closely with patients and dentists. OTC’s dental assisting program strives to provide opportunities for students to discover their talents and abilities and to achieve individual excellence.

The dental assisting program is a selective admission program. A separate application process is required for acceptance into this program. Upon acceptance, the students will take the “program specific courses.” Graduates receive a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree designed to prepare them for the national certification exam administered by The Dental Assisting National Board and the Missouri Expanded Function Permits issued by the Missouri Dental Board.

A new class begins each fall and spring semesters. The application deadline for the program is June 15 for the fall start and October 31 for the spring start. Additional information may be found on the Application Packet webpage link found on the Dental Programs webpage https://academics.otc.edu/dental/.

The dental assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association located at 211 E Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

Dental Assisting - Program Requirements - 39 Credit Hours

COM-100 Introduction to Communication Credits: 3 (or higher)
DAS-101 Chairside Assisting I Credits: 4
DAS-102 Infection Prevention Credits: 2
DAS-103 Chairside Assisting II Credits: 3
DAS-105 The Dental Professional Credits: 2
DAS-114 Operative Dentistry Credits: 3
DAS-115 Dental Science and Health Credits: 2
DAS-120 Dental Materials I Credits: 3
DAS-123 Dental Materials II Credits: 3
DAS-130 Dental Radiology I Credits: 3
DAS-132 Dental Radiology II Credits: 3
DAS-150 Dental Office Procedures Credits: 2
DAS-191 Dental Clinic Practicum I Credits: 3
DAS-192 Dental Clinic Practicum II Credits: 3

General Education Requirements - 16 Credit Hours

The Missouri Department of Higher Education has identified a common set of general education courses that have been adopted statewide. These courses are called the “CORE 42.” CORE 42 courses are guaranteed to transfer to any Missouri public college or university to satisfy general education requirements.

Courses in knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicates courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Courses that do not have this designation may still transfer to public and private colleges and universities in Missouri and elsewhere, but students are encouraged to check the transfer equivalency website of the institution to which they plan to transfer to confirm.

Please refer to the MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credit Hours (must include PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)

ANT-101 Introduction to Anthropology Credits: 3
ANT-220 Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
COM-150 Intro Mass Communication Credits: 3
CRM-210 Intro to Criminal Justice Credits: 3
ECO-270 Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3
ECO-275 Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3
GRY-101 World Geography Credits: 3
HST-105 World History I Credits: 3
HST-106 World History II Credits: 3
HST-120 U.S. History I: to 1865 Credits: 3
HST-130 U.S. History II: 1865-Present Credits: 3
PLS-101 American Government and Politics Credits: 3
PLS-201 International Relations Credits: 3
PSY-110 Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3
PSY-130 Life Span Development Psychology Credits: 3
SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
SOC-210 Urban Sociology Credits: 3

Institutional Electives - 6 Credit Hours

The 6 elective hours for this category can consist of any course numbered 100 or higher from any area of study that a student is eligible to enroll.

Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)

Dental Assisting - Program Requirements - 39 Credit Hours

General Education Requirements - 16 Credit Hours

Mathematical Sciences - 3 Credit Hours

Written Communications - 3 Credit Hours

Natural Sciences - 4 Credit Hours

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credit Hours (must include PLS 101 or HST 120 or HST 130)

Institutional Electives - 6 Credit Hours