Expanded Duty Dental Assisting Certification

Program Start Date: Fall or Spring term
Minimum Program Length: 40 Hours
Program ID:  DASC.DA
Curriculum Code: 15202

Program Description

Expanded duty dental assisting students develop skills to receive and to prepare the patient for treatment, to prepare dental instrument setups, and to assist a licensed dentist in the treatment of patients. As an office manager, the dental assistant is a liaison between the dentist and patients.

Practical Experience

Students work in a simulated dental office during the first and second semesters on campus to gain clinical skills. Clinical experience is gained during the last semester by rotations in local dental offices.

Professional Opportunities

Chairside dental assistant, receptionist, oral surgery assistant, orthodontic assistant, pediatric dental assistant, endodontist assistant, periodontist assistant and office manager.

Unique Aspects

A criminal background investigation (CBI) and drug testing are required at student expense for each Health and Human Services student who has been accepted into a Spartanburg Community College curriculum program of study. For more information, please visit the Criminal Background Investigations and Drug Testing Policy section of the SCC webpage.

Graduates will meet the eligibility requirements to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB), a national certification exam to become certified dental assistants. The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting Program is accredited without reporting by: American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, (312) 440-4653, www.ada.org

EEDA Career Cluster:

Health Sciences

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to recall, apply, and analyze patient data.
2. Prepare instruments, materials and treatment rooms for use in general and specialty procedures.
3. Perform both professionally and ethically in direct patient care.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in the skills and procedures required of a dental assistant in a professional/clinical setting.
5. Demonstrate the ability to speak publicly, listen actively and respond effectively.

Course Requirements

• AHS 113 - Head and Neck Anatomy
• DAT 105 - Dental Charting and Documentation
• DAT 113 - Dental Materials
• DAT 115 - Ethics & Professionalism
• DAT 118 - Dental Morphology
• DAT 121 - Dental Health Education
• DAT 154 - Clinical Procedures I
• DAT 122 - Dental Office Management
• DAT 123 - Oral Medicine/Oral Biology
• DAT 127 - Dental Radiography
• DAT 164 - Clinical Procedure II
• DAT 177 - Dental Office Experience
• DAT 183 - Specialty Funcations

Total Credits: 40

Semester Display

(Courses with *** are restricted and cannot be taken without permission of the department)

 

First Semester

• AHS 113 - Head and Neck Anatomy ***
• DAT 113 - Dental Materials ***
• DAT 115 - Ethics & Professionalism ***
• DAT 118 - Dental Morphology ***
• DAT 121 - Dental Health Education ***
• DAT 154 - Clinical Procedures I ***

Second Semester

• DAT 105 - Dental Charting and Documentation***
• DAT 123 - Oral Medicine/Oral Biology ***
• DAT 127 - Dental Radiography ***
• DAT 164 - Clinical Procedure II ***
• DAT 183 - Specialty Funcations***

Third Semester

• DAT 122 - Dental Office Management***
• DAT 177 - Dental Office Experience ***

Total Credits: 40

STEP 1: Apply and be accepted to SCC. You will then work with your advisor to get you on track for your selected course of study.

Step 2: Complete the application for the SCC Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program found on the MySCC Portal.

The EDDA Program accepts 22 students each fall and 12 each spring. This number is decided by the program’s accrediting agency, the Commission on Accreditation of American Dental Education Programs. It is based on the number of clinical sites affiliated with the program.

The student must have a curricular GPA of 2.5 or higher or score a 250 or higher on all sections of Accuplacer testing.

The application process for the EDDA Program occurs twice per year - once in the fall for spring start and once in the spring for fall start.

The EDDA program is 12 consecutive months. Students beginning in August of one year will complete the program one year later, at the end of July. Students will attend fall, spring, and summer terms.

Students beginning in January will complete the program in December of the same calendar year. These students will attend spring, summer, and fall terms.

Yes, all students spend equal time at all clinical sites during their last semester. Each clinical site offers a unique learning atmosphere.

 Many of our students have families, work and attend school. The students are apprised in orientation of the number of hours required for the curriculum and they adjust work hours each semester to accommodate their school schedules. Neither class nor clinical schedules will be adjusted for a work schedule.

Many students can “multi-task” and experience no problems balancing school, family and work. We advise students to remain disciplined and practice good time management skills during the 3 semesters of school.

SCC tuition and fees are very affordable. Our Financial Aid office will be glad to counsel with any student who needs advise to apply for grants, lottery or scholarships.

There are additional fees associated with the EDDA program such as uniforms, lab jackets, testing fees, etc. An estimate of expenses for the program can be found on this website.

 Yes, all students entering the health field are required by our clinical facilities to submit a background check and a drug screen. You will receive further information about when, where and how once or if you are accepted into the program.