Classroom Experience
Dental Assisting
The learning experiences for dental assisting students at Broward College are diversified and consist of didactic (lecture), clinical and laboratory sessions.
There are 40 dental assisting students admitted each August, and we have a laboratory faculty student ratio of 1:15 and a clinic faculty student ratio of 1:6.
In addition, the dental assisting students engage in off-campus extern experiences as well as train in our on-campus dental clinic. See the full program for Dental Assisting. Dental Hygiene
The learning experiences for the dental hygiene student at Broward College are diversified and consist of didactic, clinical and laboratory sessions.
There are 16 dental hygiene students admitted each August and we have a laboratory and clinic faculty student ratio of 1:5.
As a dental hygiene student, you have the opportunity to train in a full-service dental hygiene clinic on campus. You will also be able to engage in off-campus clinical and community outreach experiences where you are able to be part of the active Broward County dental community.
See the full program for Dental Hygiene. Our faculty and staff have an open door policy to any questions that may arise during the academic experience. Our dental learning environment is professional and extremely friendly, and our on-campus clinic features an affiliation with the Broward Dental Research Clinic. In addition, we also host many dental professionals from all areas of the dental community that come to Broward College to speak and interact with you, and who cover the many different areas of dentistry.
Career Path
Dental Assistants
Attending and graduating Broward College’s Dental Assisting Program gives the dental assistant several different career pathways, from private practice dental offices to the armed forces and public health. Many hospitals have incorporated dental clinics within their institutions to provide dentistry for patients confined in the hospital or for outpatient services to patients with specific disease. After earning the Applied Technical Diploma (ATD) in Dental Assisting, you can work in a dental office performing all the dental assisting expanded functions outlined by the Florida Board of Dentistry. You can also decide to earn the Associate in Science Degree in Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene.
Our program has had 66 percent of graduates find work after receiving their certification, with the average wage totaling just over $33,000.
The following is up to date dental assisting information from the Florida Department of Education:
This program meets public institution criteria as a Gainful Employment Program as stipulated by the US Department of Education; as such, the college is required to disclose the following information:
Job Placement Rate
Job placement rate of program graduates according to the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP)
Placement rate of all program graduates: 66%
Placement rate of program graduates in career field: 47%
On-time Completion Rate
The completion rate of students who have graduated the program of study within the full-time attendance time frame.
Program Length: 10 months
On-time Completion Rate: 100%
CIP to SOC Linkage
Florida Department of Education's Classification of Instruction Program (CIP) Code to the U.S. Department of Labor's Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) Code Linkage
CIP Code |
Program Title |
Aligned Job Title |
Avg. Annual Salary |
SOC Code |
O* Net Link |
0317010100 |
Dental Assisting |
Dental Assistants |
$33,230 |
319091 |
|
Dental Hygienist
Wherever you practice your profession, the strong academic and clinical components of our program will prepare you for ongoing success in the field of dental hygiene. Our program will give you success in the pathway of your choice and in the following employment opportunities:
- Solo or group practices
- Specialty practices
- Public health dentistry
- Hospital dental clinics
- Insurance companies
- Sales representatives for dental products
- Teaching in dental assisting, dental hygiene or dental schools
Over 95 percent of Broward College students who complete this program pass the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination. Over 95 percent of Broward College students completing this program obtain Florida state licensure. Many of our students graduate and have already secured employment. The majority of our graduates find employment within two months of earning their Florida State Dental Hygiene license. One hundred percent of our graduates secure employment within six months of graduation and acquiring the state license.
All Broward College dental hygiene graduates may contact the department at 954-201-6779![]( "Call: 954-201-6779") for information and job listings. Student information for year of graduation is required.
Is This Program Right for Me?
If you are a person committed to helping others and promoting healthful living then dental assisting is right for you. If you're interested in a health career that gives you the responsibility of direct patient care, the convenience of flexible work hours, and the ability to practice anywhere in the world, dental hygiene may be right for you.
In order to be successful, both tracks require the following technical standards:
Greet and seat patients Position patients for treatment Be proficient in technology as it relates to dentistry Use the sense of touch and sight in order to provide patient care Hear audible cues and warnings of equipment, such as the oxygen tank alarm signal Use both hands to manipulate instruments to operate the equipment Adhere to the professional code of conduct performing within the scope of practice, protecting patients’ rights and confidentiality Comprehend and employ appropriate medical/ dental terminology to be able to interact with associated physicians and/or dentists Exercise professional judgment and discretion to be able to identify life-threatening situations and implement appropriate emergency care Use interpersonal skills to professionally and sensitively interact with patients. Use oral and written communication to access clinical records Coordinate movement of equipment and accessories, such as portable machines
After achieving a certificate in dental assisting, you will be expected to:
- Sterilize equipment
- Remove surgical sutures
- Prepare dental filling materials
- Take impressions of study casts
- Place and remove periodontal dressings
- Expose, process, and mount dental radiographs
- Give oral health care instructions to patients and peers
- Work chair side with the dentist utilizing the four handed dentistry technique
As licensed members of the dental team, dental hygienists provide a variety of preventive and therapeutic procedures that promote good oral health. After earning your A.S. in dental hygiene, you will be expected to:
- Apply fluoride and sealants
- Take diagnostic radiographs
- Provide nutritional counseling
- Work chair side with the dentist
- Remove calculus and plaque from teeth
- Assist the dentist in providing oral health treatments
- Provide oral health education to patients, peers and the community
- Perform procedures that aid in the prevention and treatment of gum diseases
All prospective Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene students must be a student of Broward College prior to submitting the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene application to the office of Health Science Admissions. For the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene application, the minimum transfer GPA, high school GPA and, if applicable, BC GPA is 2.5. Applicants for the Dental Assisitng program must have completed the state required Health Core class HCP 0001.
All applicants must review and sign the College's  Infectious Disease Policy prior to enrollment, in addition to reviewing the drug testing and criminal background check information. All application forms, prerequisite information, policies and admissions instructions can be found on the Health Sciences Admissions page.
Accreditation
Faculty
The faculty of both programs is in compliance with Broward College and the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation requirements. All the faculty of the dental assisting and dental hygine programs have extensive professional dental experience.
Our instructors include graduates Georgetown University, New York University, University of Florida, Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University), Saint Petersburg College and several Broward College graduates.
Courses
Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting Program is a full-time daytime 10-month program. Upon completion of the Applied Technical Diploma, the dental assisting graduate will have completed the equivalency of 50 college credits. This converts to 1,305 clock hours. Courses include:
Dental Hygiene
After completion of our American Dental Association accredited 10-month Dental Assisting program you can earn a 12-month Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Graduates will also be eligible for Florida State Dental Hygiene Licensure. Courses include:
Dental Assisting Philosophy & Program Goals
Dental Assisting Philosophy
Realizing the demands of the community and the needs of the individual, Broward College has designed the dental assisting program to prepare individuals to be an integral member of the dental health team in the health care setting so they can make their greatest contribution to society and in which they can gain personal growth and satisfaction.
The Administration, Faculty, and the Dental Assisting/Hygiene Advisory Board of Broward College have established specific goals for the achievement of this objective within the Dental Assisting Program.
Dental Assisting Program Goals
The goals are as follows:
- To prepare individuals who have the capability to sustain the professional, moral and ethical obligations associated with being a member of the dental health team.
- To prepare those individuals who have the capability and desire to perform those expanded duties approved for the dental assistant by the Florida State Board of Dentistry. The level of competency established for these duties will be determined by the faculty utilizing the resources of the Dental Assisting National Board and the area employers
- To prepare learning opportunities for students to qualify for examination and certification as a certified dental assistant in which passing rates for National Boards meet or exceed state and national averages.
- To prepare individuals who have the capability and desire to keep abreast of new developments and changes in the field of dentistry through the American Dental Assistants Association and professional dental literature.
- To prepare individuals capable of performing the clinical and office skills that may be appropriately delegated to a dental assistant.
- To prepare those individuals who wish to continue the educational process by pursuing an Associate of Science degree with the educational foundation for higher academic achievement
- To adhere to the accreditation standards for dental assisting education programs set forth by the Commission on Dental Accreditation recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
- To insure students receive accurate information, guidance and advisement to obtain optimal direction for their educational pursuit in the dental assisting and/or hygiene profession.
- To prepare students in identification of cultural differences and communication methods for patients in their practice of dental assisting.
For Alumni
All graduates of Broward college continue to be forever important to us. For alumni information, join the Alumni & Friends Association. For employment opportunities, please contact the department at 954-201-6779. Student information for year of graduation is required.
Broward Dental Research Clinic
The Broward Dental Research Clinic, established in 1975, is a full-service dental hygiene clinic and a limited service dental clinic serving the needs of the community. The clinic is a valuable tool in your clinical education as a future dental assistant or dental hygienist because it allows you to promote the oral health of the public so you can apply what you have learned. The clinic also offers continuing education opportunities for dentists.
Links
Below are some resourceful industry links to give you more background information on being a dental hygienist or dental assistant.
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