Dental Assistant

Courses

Introduction

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to work as a qualified dental technician. During the course, students will learn how to design, construct, modify and repair dental prostheses and appliances, such as dentures, bridges, crowns and mouthguards. The course also incorporates important work and personal skills, such as communication, business techniques and tasks prioritisation to improve efficiency.

After completion of the course, you will be able to do the following:

• Make models of the mouth and teeth from impressions of the patient’s mouth (taken by the dental prosthetist [clinical dental technician] or dentist).
• Build up wax replicas of part of all of the mouth and/or teeth on the model.
• Encase the wax in a mould material and melt away the wax.
• Replace the wax with either plastic, metal or ceramic materials to make the replacement appliance.
• Polish and finish the appliance prior to it being placed in the patient’s mouth.
• Make appliances for patients with cleft palates, braces and plates for correcting irregular teeth and mouthguards.

Background

Dental technicians are dental care professionals and work as part of the dental team Selecting A Career Of Dental Assistant Is A Wise Judgment

A dental assistant is a valuable post for any dental practice. Dental assistant's duty is to assist the smooth delivery of quality dental health care to patients. His role is a vital in any dental operation. This is major ground for opting Dental assistant job. Competent dental assistant persons have very bright future. Dental assistants help patients in numerous ways. Many Dental Assistants get job satisfaction by comforting the patients in the chair and by helping the dentist provide relief to those with painful dental conditions such as extracting teeth or RCT.

Basically, Dental Assistants are trained personnel who provide chair side assisting, four-handed dentistry, radiology and the use of dental materials in Dental clinic. Other jobs of Dental assistant in clinic or health care centre are management of financial records, complete insurance forms, and schedule patients. In Dental Assistant training centre, candidates are trained to prepare the patient for treatment, take X-ray examinations and obtain dental records. Dental Assistants also work with dentist by supplying proper instruments and materials during a patient examination. Dental Assistant are well trained during training course to sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare tray setups for dental procedures, provide postoperative instruction, instruct patients in oral health care, prepare materials for making impressions and restorations, expose radiographs and process dental X-ray film as per the direction of the dentist.

Educational qualification: Dental assistants generally trained and learn their skills on the job. Besides basic educational qualification, there are other essential requirements to become Dental assistant. Dental assistants must be trustworthy, have an ability to do job efficiently with others and have good manual dexterity. To work as a licensed Dental assistant, they have to pass a written or practical exam. Candidates who wish to join Dental Assistant training course must be fully dedicated and hard working. This is a very crucial job where personnel have to deal with patient who suffers from ache. Assistant's prime job is to make patient comfortable. Candidate who decides to be a Dental Assistant must have high tolerance power because some time patients become ill-tempered and assistants have to control them by their soft nature. It has been estimated in a survey that entry-level dental experts have high demand in health care centre. Due to high demand, employment of Dental Assistants is anticipated to increase faster as compared to other professions in near future.

After completing the Dental Assistant course, candidates are well qualified to work as a clinical dental assistant with extended duties such as dental specialties, dental laboratory procedures, digital radiology, sterilization techniques, nutritional counseling and preventive procedures. They are trained to converse successfully in oral and written form with patients, peers and dental health team members. These dental Assistants acquire skill in dental front office skills plus patient in-take, scheduling, insurance and financial procedures and general office computer skills including email, spreadsheets, word processing and dental office specialty software applications used for billing and scheduling. They are now proficient to clear the Dental Assistant National Board Exam.

Though dental assistants are trained with common skills but the tasks of a dental assistant in any dental office, hospital, or other dental facility can be exceedingly diverse and focused. In some clinics, they are expected to be technical experts. Other offices hire Dental assistants who have effectual inter personal and communication skills. The job of assistants is based on the requirement of health care centre but Dental assistant must perform three main tasks efficiently. These tasks are: help the dentist in administering the best dental care, help patients and make them relaxed and make sure that the dental practice or facility runs well. They can accomplish these objectives through dedication and doing advanced courses. Many times, Dental assistant work in a combination of office and administration work, lab work, and patient care.

Career Opportunities

Dental technicians may work in hospitals or dental laboratories or for dental group practices. Advanced dental technicians work independently in private practice or in partnership with other dental technicians. Many dental technicians also operate their own boutique laboratories and students can combine with the Business Management course to gain necessary skills in operating a business.

Further Study Opportunities

Successful completion of the Diploma of Dental Technology will enable graduates to pursue further study opportunities in dental prosthetics.

Eligibility

Male/Female candidates who have passed XII class (H.S.S.E)/ N.O.S. are eligible. Candidates studying / discontinued 10 + 2+3 / Intermediate / equivalent are also eligible

Age limit

Students should not be more than 35 years of age (upper limit ) as on 1st JANUARY of year of admission.

Course programme

• Duration of course is 02 years (24 Months)
• Which includes 12 months-Class room study and internal practical during first year.
• The second year includes class room study, internal lab practical and hospital trainings including field/community medical tours in the adjacent and far-flung areas.

Documents to be produced at the time of admission

• H. S.S.E (XII class) Marks Memo
• Transfer Certificate
• Migration Certificate
• Date of birth proof certificate
• Caste certificate ( for S.T, S.C & B.C. C students)
• Income certificate
• State Subject Certificate / Domicile 

Documents to be attached with the admission form:

• 03  xerox copies of each of the following testimonials
• 10 +2 marks sheet , Date of Birth certificate , state subject ,caste certificate if any , income certificate.
• Two self addressed postal envelopes worth ten rupees stamp affixed.
• Two latest passport size photographs ,dully paste  on admission form.

Fee Structure

• First Installment: Rs 25,000/ (At the time of Admission.)
• Second Installment: Rs 20,000/
• Third installment: Rs 15,000/ 
• Fourth installment: Rs 15,000/ 
• Clinic Charges: Rs 5000/
• Total Rs 80,000 /

Note:The delay in the payments should be charged by the late fee of 10% of the balance of that time if exceeded by one week and after that a stern action should be taken as per the norms of the college which may even expel the student from the on rolls.

Examination /RR charges ; As Per JKSPMNC schedule on the date of their respective notifications. Uniforms, hostel, Transportation Charges are extra at actual)

(Management reserves the Right to Change the amount or structure without notice)

Examination /RR charges

As per JKSPMC schedule on the date of their respective notifications. (Uniforms, hostel, Transportation Charges are extra at actual)

(Management reserves the Right to Change the amount or structure without notice)

Syllabus

• Basic Anatomy And Physiology (Human Body and Disease including Histology)
• Applied Microbiology and Foundations In Microbiology.
• Pathology & Bacteriology
• Food Nutrition & Radiology
• Dental Hygienist & Oral Prophylaxis
• Preventive and Community Dentistry
• Dental Materials and Orientation in Dentistry.
• Practical and Oral viva.

Records

Following are the minimum records, which should be maintained by the student in the college

• Admission Record
• Health Record
• Class Attendance Record
• Clinical and Field Experience Record
• Internal Assessment record for both theory and practical
• Mark lists (State Council/ SMF- Results)
• Records of extra curricular activities of student (both in the college as well as outside)
• Leave Record
• Practical Record Books – Anatomy Record Book , Practical books for Nutrition ,Microbiology , Pharmacology, Prosthodontics , & Dental to be maintained as prescribed by MCI/INC /SMF.
• Cumulative Record

Record of educational programmes organized for teaching faculty and student, both in the College as well as outside.

Job Opportunities

Dental Technician is one of the best choices for a job oriented course. After successful completion of course, student can be exposed to wide variety of jobs. The following are some of the jobs where as Dental Technician can comfortably apply & be placed as per the selection policy of Government .The NRHM also absorbs thousands of candidates every year in different states of India with respect to our state J &K.

• Primary Health Centres (P.H.Cs)
• Govt. Hospitals
• Multi-speciality and Super-Speciality hospitals
• Private Hospitals and Clinics

If Dental Technician student wants to pursue higher education, he/she can go for graduation in the same field.