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Dental Assisting

Information for Applicants

 Want immediate answers to your questions? Call the program director, Cara Miyasaki, cell: 408-219-1774

Program Admission Criteria

Admission is limited to 24 full-time students and based on criteria approved by Foothill College and consistent with State and Federal law, regulations and program accreditation guidelines.

  • Applications are reviewed on a first come, first serve basis, and are available year-round.
  • The earlier an application is submitted, the earlier a student can be screened for Fall admission into the program.
  • Complete applications on file before August 1, for the incoming fall class, will have priority. Students can continue to apply after August 1, and will be notified if there are openings in the program.
  • Transcripts or other documents are not required for admission in the program.  If the student has graduated from a foreign high school the transcripts do not need to be evaluated or submitted upon application.  If a student cannot get their High School diploma or transcripts, the applicant writes a short 1-2 explanation on the application and that is acceptable for admission.
  • Dental assistants, dental hygienists or dentists from foreign countries who apply to the dental assisting program are not eligible for advanced standing in the program.  If the applicant is not a California resident, the tuition will be much higher compared to California resident tuition (at least $18, 000 not including other expenses).

School Schedule

The Foothill College Dental Assisting program is a rigorous 9 month program for full-time students.

  • You should expect to be in school from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. There are times when classes are held earlier than 9 a.m. or later than 5 p.m.
  • It is recommended that students focus on the program and limit work hours as much as possible.
  • Social functions, work responsibilities, and other personal appointments must be scheduled outside of class time.
  • Attendance is closely monitored as that the dental assisting program is preparing its graduates to be successful employees in the dental workforce. Poor attendance or tardiness will result in dismissal of the student from classes.
  • Sample schedule: PDF

How hard is the program?

The Foothill College Dental Assisting program is a rigorous and intensive program. Every year many students mention the fact that going through the program is a lot harder than what they thought it would be like. Multiple tests can be given on the same day. Cumulative midterm and final exams are given for many classes to help prepare the students to successfully pass difficult state and national written examinations.

Certification and Licensing

A Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting is awarded to students who complete all of the courses with a "C" grade or better as outlined on the front page of the curriculum sheet. In addition, students also receive a Radiation Health & Safety Certificate, Coronal Polishing Certificate, Pit and Fissure Sealants Certificate.  Dental assisting students can take national and state licensing examinations once he/she has completed the program.

Student Kit and Fee

The student kit is purchased through the ULCA Health Sciences Store. The kit consists of a dental x-ray film, tooth models, and other materials that the dental assisting student will be using throughout the year. The fee estimate in the dental assisting application is only an estimate and the actual fee may be higher or lower.

Purchase of the kit is mandatory and no substitutions from outside sources can be made.

Uniform

Students are required to wear a uniform when attending all classes.  Students are required to wear surgical scrubs and closed toe shoes. Students are responsible for purchasing their uniform before Fall quarter.

Clinical Rotations

 In Fall quarter (September to December), during the last half of Fall quarter, students will have a clinical rotation at the UCSF School of Dentistry on Thursdays.  The rest of the time will be spent in the classroom.

In Winter quarter (January to March), the dental assisting students have a clinical rotation at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. This rotation will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All dental specialties such as periodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and children's dentistry, are taught to dental students and residents at the UCSF School of Dentistry. The dental school teaches state-of-the art dental procedures and materials which provides a thorough introduction to dentistry to the dental assisting students.

In Spring quarter (April to June) the dental assisting students have a clinical rotation in private dental offices on Tuesday and Thursday. The Foothill College Dental Assisting program has contracts with private dental offices in the community surrounding Foothill College. This area is the mid-peninsula area (Mountain View, Redwood City, Palo Alto). Students in the Foothill College Dental Assisting program will need reliable transportation to his/her clinical rotation in this area. Hardship cases e.g. no car, child care time deadlines are considered on a case-to-case basis and need to be brought to the attention of the clinical supervisor. All attempts will be made to accommodate special requests.

Student Conduct

The primary goal of the Foothill College Dental Assisting Program is to prepare students to successfully work in a private dental office in a diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic environment. Teamwork is emphasized and students who are admitted into the dental assisting program are encouraged to work together with other students during laboratory sessions. The instructor often arranges lab partners and changes are not acceptable. Therefore, students should make an effort to get along with all of the students. We do not expect everyone to be friends but the student should be at least civil to each other.

Students are not only required to work together but will also be working in the mouth of other students for certain procedures. This close and personnel working relationship can be unpleasant if students do not get along with each other.

Radiology, Coronal Polishing, Pit & Fissure Sealant Requirements

Dental assisting students are required to provide their own patients to take full mouth and bite wing x-rays. X-ray patients will be needed during the months of January to June. Students should recruit their friends and family members now as that bite wing x-rays can be taken only once a year and full mouth x-rays can be taken only every 3 to 5 years.

During the months of April to June, the dental assisting student will be learning how to polish teeth and will need two patients with a minimum of 15 teeth. Coronal polishing patients must have their teeth cleaned prior to polishing. The cleaning should be completed between the months of March or April. Coronal polishing patients should get their teeth cleaned by their private dentist or can go to the Foothill College Dental Hygiene Clinic. Cleanings are $30.00, however, appointments must be made well in advance. Cleanings in the dental hygiene clinic will take from 2 to 4 appointments and the appointments are 3 hours in length. The patient should not expect to leave early unless otherwise told so.

In Spring quarter, the dental assisting student will be learning how to place pit & fissure sealants and will need a total of 4 patients to fulfill the clinical requirements for the course. 

Physical Examinations

All students must complete a physical examination before starting the program. Standard forms are to be completed and filled out by a physician of your choice and must be returned to the Foothill College Dental Assisting Program by the first day of school.

  • Admission will be contingent upon completion of this examination.
  • This evaluation will help us to determine your ability to comply with the technical standards of the program which are listed on the application.

Hepatitis B antibody, tuberculosis, a rubella test, and other vaccinations or proof of vaccinations must be performed by your physician and a copy of the lab results must be attached to the form.

  • All students should consider vaccination against Hepatitis B. The vaccination can be obtained from the Foothill College Student Health Center or a physician of your choice. The vaccination is a series of three injections. The second injection is given one month after the first injection and the third injection is given six months after the first injection.
  • Students who have a positive tuberculosis skin test must have a chest x-ray and clearance from their physician prior to attending a clinical rotation.

Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

 All students must be certified in Basic Life Support prior to beginning the program. Students can contact the American Heart Association for classes. It is the student's responsibility to accomplish this certification before the start of Fall quarter (September). 

Background Check

 All applicants admitted into this program are required to undergo standard Federal background checks with all costs borne by the student.
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Questions?
We're Here to Help!

Cara Miyasaki, RDHEF, MS , Department Chair

650.949.7351


miyasakicara@foothill.edu


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