Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)

Location(s): Springfield Campus

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A.A.S. Degree: 62 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 may 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 grade of “C” or better is required for all dental assisting program required courses.

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.

The dental assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association located at 211 E Chicago, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611. 800.232.6108 https://coda.ada.org/

Selective Admission Program:

The information below shows the courses and requirements you need to graduate from this program. Some courses may need to be completed before you can enter the program and may have extra rules, like a required minimum grade. Please contact the Health Sciences office or visit the program page for more information on how to apply.

Dental Assisting - Program Requirements - 40 Credit Hours

A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required for all DAS prefix courses.

DAS 101 Chairside Assisting I Credits: 5
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: 4
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: 4
DAS 192 Dental Clinic Practicum II Credits: 4

General Education Requirements - 19 Credit Hours

Mathematical Sciences - 3 Credit Hours

Any higher level MTH course will satisfy this requirement

MTH 128 Contemporary Mathematics Credits: 3
MTH 128S Cont Mathematics with Support Credits: 4

Written Communications - 3 Credit Hours

ENG 101 Composition I Credits: 3 or
ENG 100 Composition I With Support Credits: 5

Oral Communication - 3 Credit Hours

Any higher level COM course will satisfy this requirement.

COM 100 Introduction to Communication Credits: 3

Natural Sciences - 4 Credit Hours

BCS 165 Human Anatomy Credits: 4
BIO 100 Life Science Credits: 4
BIO 105 Environmental Science Credits: 4
BIO 160 General Biology I Credits: 4
CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry Credits: 4
CHM 160 General Chemistry I Credits: 4
PHY 105 Introduction to Physics Credits: 4
PHY 110 Introduction to Geology Credits: 4
PHY 115 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 4
PHY 120 General Physics I Credits: 4
PHY 220 Physics Engrs & Scientists I Credits: 5
The following courses are 3 credit hours and do not meet the minimum hours required.
BCS 115 Essentials in Human Biology Credits: 3
BCS 132 Health Sciences Nutrition Credits: 3
BCS 210 Pathophysiology Credits: 3
BIO 135 Nutrition for Living Credits: 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 6 Credit Hours

One course must be a Civics course (PLS 101, HST 120, 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 Ancient and Medieval World History Credits: 3
HST 106 Modern World History Credits: 3
HST 120 U.S. History I: to 1865 Credits: 3 ^{*civics course}
HST 130 U.S. History II: 1865-Present Credits: 3 ^{*civics course}
PLS 101 American Government and Politics Credits: 3 ^{*civics course}
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 - 3 Credit Hours

Students will complete 3 credit hours of elective coursework from any college-level course numbered 100 or higher. Elective credit may include approved transfer courses that do not have a direct Ozarks Tech course equivalency but are determined to be at the appropriate college level.