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Owens Community College unveils new Dental Assisting Certificate Program
Owens Community College is expanding its educational opportunities within the Department of Dental Hygiene by announcing the creation of a new Dental Assisting Certificate Program. The new academic certificate program is being offered to area residents for the first time during the current Fall Semester on the Toledo-area Campus.
The College’s new certificate program recently received formal approval by the Ohio Board of Regents.
“Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene Department is proud to offer an academic pathway that will meet the needs of the health care community throughout Northwest Ohio and beyond,” said Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene.
“The demand for dental assistant professionals is growing as a result of dental practices expanding their need for dental auxiliary utilization. Trained dental assistants play an invaluable role in providing dental service and this new program is designed to assist students in pursuing their career aspirations in dental care.”
Owens’ certificate in dental assisting requires 39 credit hours of coursework, which includes dental sciences, infection control, dental materials, dental radiography, chairside assisting and medical ethics, among other academic curriculum. The new educational program is designed to prepare students for employment in the health care dental industry. Additionally, students will receive experiential learning in the College’s state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Clinic on the Toledo-area Campus as well as at the Dental Center of Northwest Ohio and area dental offices.
Upon program completion, individuals will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to work in entry-level or higher employment positions as dental assistants in private dental offices, hospitals, correctional institutions, dental clinics, in the armed forces, and federal, state and municipal health departments.
Responsibilities as a dental assistant 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.
Program admission is selective and requires submission of a complete application file that includes a college application, high school transcripts or GED record and college transcripts (if applicable). Upon program completion, students will have the opportunity to sit for the Dental Assisting Certification Examination administered by the Commission of Ohio Dental Assistant Certification.
In addition to the new Dental Assisting Certificate Program, the Department of Dental Hygiene offers academic programs in Dental Hygiene and Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary.
For additional information about Owens’ new academic program, call (567) 661-7374 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7374.
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