Dental Assisting Program

Established in 1964, the Phoenix College Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the American Dental Association. Graduates are qualified to take the National Certification Examination and the Radiation Health and Safety Examination as required by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.

Program Philosophy:

The Dental Assisting faculty believes it is their responsibility to plan, implement and evaluate the learning process and to provide experiences for optimal learning to ensure safe clinical practice for both the student and the patients. We believe that learning is enhanced when the student accepts the responsibility for learning and the role of the faculty is to act as facilitators in the learning process, therefore the students are encouraged to be self-directed in their learning and to develop high standards of professional excellence.

We believe that dental assisting is an applied science. Principles of the biological, social and behavioral sciences are incorporated to aid the student in developing diversified qualities to better serve the dental community.

We believe that students progress at different rates, but all students should meet minimum requirements in order to graduate from the program. Because we believe in a broad-based education, we encourage students to complete the additional requirements for an associate degree.

We believe the community college provides an ideal setting for dental assisting students to enhance their learning through interaction with students in other career fields.

The Dental Assisting faculty encourages the graduate to assume responsibility for continued personal and professional growth, and to enhance knowledge and skills through participation in continuing education and the dental assisting organizations.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Phoenix College Dental Assisting Program is to provide the learning opportunities and experiences for the student to become an integral member of the dental health team by becoming a clinically skilled, competent dental assistant, and to instill in them a respect for the dental assisting profession and a desire for continued professional development.

Program Goals:

1. Through an educational program, accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, provide each student with marketable skills in clinical, radiographic and laboratory procedures.

2. Educate students who demonstrate ethical and professional conduct.

3. Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully complete the written and clinical board examination for state and national certification.

4. Strengthen the instructional knowledge and skills of faculty and staff to remain current in emerging dental technologies and teaching methodologies.

5. Continually improve the dental assisting curriculum to meet the changing needs of the student and the dental community.

Dental Assisting Employment Opportunities

The employment outlook for both the Dental Assistant and the Dental Office Manager is excellent. Statistics published by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate employment of dental assistants will continue to grow through the year 2010.

In Arizona, there is a severe shortage of qualified dental assistants. Opportunities exist in general dentistry or dental specialties, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, children's dentistry and other specialties. Public health dentistry, dental insurance companies, and dental supply companies also offer employment opportunities for the dental assistant.

 The dental assistant's skills and education can also be utilized in the teaching field. Graduates can earn between $25,000 and $30,000 per year as a beginning salary. Another positive aspect of being a Dental Assistant is the flexibility in working hours. The work schedule can be full-time or part-time.

The demand for dental services will continue to grow. Due to the success of preventive dentistry in reducing the incidence of oral disease, the growing older population will retain their teeth longer, and will be even more aware of the importance of regular dental care. Dentists will need to employ more dental assistants than ever before to meet the increased demand for dental services.