Description
The Dental Assisting Rapid Track (D.A.R.T.) Program will provide didactic education and clinical training in chairside dental assisting procedures, manipulation of dental materials, dental laboratory procedures, radiographic techniques, specialty dentistry assisting procedures, infection control procedures, and expanded functions permitted by state regulations for an individual that is currently employed as a Dental Assistant in New York State. The program will offer content in the biomedical sciences, dental materials and instruments, dental radiography techniques and safety, basic dental and oral anatomy, introductory content in oral histology, embryology, pathology, and therapeutics, legal and ethical aspects of dental assisting, chairside dental assisting and appropriate laboratory procedures, patient education and preventive dentistry, dental radiographic procedures, infection control, assisting in the management of dental and medical emergencies; and coursework in oral and written communications and basic behavioral concepts. One thousand hours of relevant work experience is required upon graduation.

The D.A.R.T. certificate program is not financial aid eligible.

Admission to this program is conditional upon meeting medical requirements and the ability to meet technical standards (physical demands) of the program.

The D.A.R.T. Program meets the criteria for NYS DANB Pathway II:
An applicant who graduates from a New York registered dental assisting program, or the equivalent, but does not meet DANB's requirement to take the DANB CDA exam (because the program was not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the applicant has less than two years’ experience) must pass the DANB, New York State's three-part exam which consists of New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA) Exam, Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam and Infection Control (ICE) Exam.

To be eligible for New York State Licensure, the examination and education requirements must be completed.

A minimum grade of C is necessary in all courses for continued matriculation and graduation of the program. No student may progress to the next Dental Studies course level without successful completion of all courses in the previous level.

Students who plan to apply to MCC’s Dental Hygiene program after completing Dental Assisting should speak to their advisor to discuss admission requirements and the application process.

Program Learning Outcomes
1.Define body structure and function.
2.Define basic concepts of microbiology pertaining to infection control.
3.Define how basic biomedical nutrition is important for the dental patient.
4.Utilize dental materials effectively while assisting during dental procedures.
5.Utilize dental instruments effectively while assisting during dental procedures.
6.Identify safe dental radiography procedures.
7.Identify basic dental and oral anatomy during dental procedures.
8.Define introductory content in oral histology, embryology, pathology and therapeutics.
9.Perform chairside dental assisting and laboratory procedures when placing and removing temporary restorations.
10.Perform chairside dental assisting and laboratory procedures when placing, condensing, and carving amalgam restorations.
11.Perform chairside dental assisting and laboratory procedures when placing, condensing, and finishing non-metallic restorations.
12.Perform patient education.
13.Perform preventive dentistry.
14.Perform dental radiographic procedures.
15.Perform infection control procedures.
16.Assist in the management of dental and medical emergencies.
17.Complete coursework in oral and written communications and behavioral concepts.
18.Perform such other expanded dental assisting functions and dental supportive services authorized by the dentist and consistent with New York State laws, rules and regulations.
19.Complete the required hours of clinical practice defined in the NYS Dental Practice Act for NYS licensure.