Dental Assisting

Program Description

Dental Assisting is a three-term program which provides individuals the opportunity to attain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a dental clinic or dental office. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to provide basic support under the supervision of a licensed dentist or dental hygienist. Instruction occurs in classrooms, laboratories and dental clinics.
This program prepares graduates for state certification in dental radiographs, coronal polishing and topical fluoride application. It also prepares students to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exam.

Career and Advancement Opportunities
There is a demand for well-trained dental assistants in the metropolitan area as well as in rural areas across the state. Dental assistants work with dentists or a dental hygienist to promote dental health. In addition, they might find employment in office management, dental laboratories or dental sales. They can work in private offices, dental clinics, dental supply companies, dental laboratories, hospitals, mobile dental clinics or with school programs.

Special Requirements
Students may be required to attend clinical lab courses on weekends and during evening hours. All Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division career and technical courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B or C. For Health, Wellness & Public Safety career and technical courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned.
Students with a criminal background may have limited employment opportunities in healthcare and public service. Those who have a felony conviction should refer to the relevant New Mexico legislation (NMSA, Section 29-17-5 for healthcare employees available at http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/HB0627.pdf). Students should also contact appropriate credentialing or licensing agencies and local or regional industry for hiring and employment practices. Contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
Students are required to have a physical exam, current professional BLS CPR certification, PPD and current immunizations (including MMR, DTP, PPD and hepatitis A & B) prior to beginning the clinical courses. Students may be required to undergo routine drug screening and a criminal background check prior to beginning their clinical experience. Students interested in certain Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division programs must be in good physical and psychological health. Some programs require documentation of a recent health screening from a licensed healthcare provider confirming the ability to safely perform program specific activities and lift a minimum of 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are made for those students with disabilities. However, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment. Students with a disability that may interfere with completing program competencies, which may include providing safe patient care, are advised to contact the HWPS Division Office at (505) 224-4111 for more information.
A $70 program fee is charged in DA 102L to cover the cost of a lab coat, two sets of scrubs, DA pin, a pair of safety goggles, nametags and preventative lab tests in case of a needle stick or other exposure to bodily fluids. A $30 program fee is charged in DA 108L, 118L, 120C and 124C for dosimeter badges. In addition, students must purchase their own textbooks.

Graduation Policy
Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division students must graduate under the current catalog.

• Pre- and corequisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or corequisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or corequisites are not met.
• Students who have successfully completed courses that no longer exist from previous catalogs will be accommodated. Contact the division at (505) 224-4111 for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Information sessions are scheduled regularly. For dates and times, applicants may contact the Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division information line at (505) 224-4161; program director, Melanie Upshaw, at (505) 224-5247, mupshaw@cnm.edu; or Academic Advisement and Career Development at (505) 224-4321.