| Diman Advisory Board Seeks Your Help We want you to join the Diman family. While we're proud of our vocational programs and their ability to turn young men and women into skilled members of the community, we can't maintain that level of quality without the help of industry professionals. Please consider joining our Vocational Advisory Board, where you will help steer our vocational programs and students toward future success. Learn more here. |
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Dental Assisting in the News
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The Dental Assisting program trains and educates students to be competent Dental Assistants. The skills of a Dental Assistant are varied and challenging with a wide range of tasks that require interpersonal and technical skills.
The Dental Assisting Program offers students the opportunity to take the Dental Assisting National Board Exam in Infection Control and Radiation Health and Safety.
Students receive intense hands-on training in the dental shop at Diman as well as clinical rotations at local dental offices. Clinical experience can also be obtained through the Co-Op program.
The course requirements consist of average to above average grades in science and English. Students must posses a good degree of manual dexterity as well as good interpersonal skills.
Career opportunities can include flexible hours with part time and full time employment.
Skill Areas
- Prevention and Nutrition
- Basic Dental Sciences
- Pre-Clinical Dental Skills
- Clinical Dental Procedures
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Specialties
- Restorative and Laboratory Materials and Techniques
- Dental Practice Management
Certification
Certifications are an important component of the dental profession. The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is the certifying body for Dental Assistants. DANB offers three certifications to candidates that qualify to become a Certified Dental Assistant.
Students have the opportunity to obtain two of the DANB certifications as well as a certificate from the American Red Cross in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Sophomore students qualify for the Infection Control Exam upon successful completions of the Microbiology/Infection Control/Hazardous Waste Management curriculum.
Junior students qualify for the Radiation Health and Safety Exam upon successful completion of the Radiology Curriculum. Certification in Radiology is mandated by the State of Massachusetts.
The General Chairside certification is available to students who complete 3500 hours of clinical assisting. Hours may be accrued from CO -OP and post graduation hours.
Continuing Education
Upon completing full Certification in Dental Assisting (CDA), the student must earn 12 credits per year in related educational material in order to maintain their certification. Credits can be obtained by attending the Yankee Dental Conference in Boston, through local and national dental assistant associations as well as home study courses and the American Red Cross.
Community Service
The students participate in community service projects involving teaching oral hygiene care to elementary schools, and volunteering in child identification programs.
Skills USA
Students participate in leadership and technical skill competitions each year. The program has enjoyed success with winners in several events. Dental Assistant students have won gold, silver and bronze medallions at the state and national levels in Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Prepared Speech, Health Occupations Professional Portfolio and Technical Skills competitions.
Career Options
Students graduating from Diman have a variety of job options open to them. Below is a partial list of jobs Diman grads from this program are qualified for, depending on their level of education.
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Announcements Diman Dental Assisting students shine again Diman’s Dental Assisting students have excelled in a national certification test once more. This time, all 17 juniors have passed the Radiation Health and Safety Exam, the second of third steps for official Massachusetts Certification.
“Nationwide, only 75% of test takers pass this test” said Torres. “I’m very excited for them and their accomplishment.” Story continues. Dental students ace the ICE Students in Diman's Dental Assisting Program outpaced national test takers in the Dental Assistant National Board Infection Control Exam (ICE) in Warwick, RI. Diman sophomores achieved a 94% pass rate in the 90-minute exam that typically has a nationwide 72% pass rate for high school post-graduates. Story continuesDentistry Program featured on WPRI NewsKey Club Food DriveDespite the Herculean effort of the Culinary Arts Dept who donated 1002 food goods to the Diman Key Club Annual Food Drive, they were edged out by the small but determined Electronics shop by a mere 79 food items for a total donation of 1081 canned goods and non-perishable! Third place went to HVAC with Dental Assisting right on their heels.
The Diman Key Club would like to thank everyone who participated in the food drive by donating a turkey, money, food, and time. Special thanks to HVAC and the cafeteria for storing over 80 turkeys and the Culinary Arts Dept. for providing fresh baked pies for every basket. These are the acts that reflect the beauty and warmth of the season. Read more about the food drive, with photos and video, here. Diman Students Volunteer to Provide Free Dentistry on September 22On Saturday, September 22, students and instructors from the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s Dental Assisting program will join Dr. David Ahearn and other volunteers to provide complimentary dental care to local residents at the Fifth Annual Dentistry From The Heart event. The event is in conjunction with Dentistry From the Heart, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to adults in need. Story continues here.
Diman Advisory Board Seeks Your HelpWe want you to join the Diman family. While we're proud of our vocational programs and their ability to turn young men and women into skilled members of the community, we can't maintain that level of quality without the help of industry professionals. Please consider joining our Vocational Advisory Board, where you will help steer our vocational programs and students toward future success. Learn more here.
A thank youOn behalf of the International Club, we would like to extend our thank you to Mrs. Maria Torres of the Dental Department for all of her hard work in the fashion show! Also to all the students to participated.
Diman dental students sparkle during taste of working world Dental hygienist Veronica Gagnon got her tools in order, made sure her patient was comfortable and turned to her assistant."Ready?" she asked. Andrea Gervasio sat down, rolled over to her station and waited for orders. Dressed in scrubs and a mask, she certainly looked the part of an experienced professional. But this moment was a first for the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School senior — a glimpse of what could be her career. Story continues. Dentistry From the Heart Field Trip7 Student's and 3 Faculty members in the Dental Assisting Program participated in a community service project called Dentist From The Heart. Student's greeted patients, assisted during procedures and, prepared and sterilized instruments. Faculty members assessed patients and provided hygiene services.
Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to those who need it. Every year, individual dentists and practices across the country donate their time and resources to host their own DFTH events. Dr. David Ahearn, founder of Perfect Smiles in Westport and Southcoast Smiles in Seekonk, has been hosting Dentistry From the Heart events for the past 4 years. The 2011 event took place in Seekonk on September 17. Over 40 volunteers, including several students and faculty from Diman, were on hand to provide free care to those in need. At the end of the day, over 100 residents received cleanings, fillings, and extractions, amounting to over $40,000 in donated care. Dr. Ahearn and the staff of Southcoast Smiles send their sincerest gratitude to all those who volunteered and helped make the 4th Annual Dentistry From the Heart event a great success! Students Receive Dental Health Exams at Diman RegionalStudents from the Diman Dental Assisting program assisted hygienists from the Polished, LLC program on Thursday May 19th and Friday May 27th in the Dental Assisting Shop. The Polished program is a public health dental program where dental hygienists and/or dentists provide dental cleanings, exams, fluoride varnish treatment, sealants, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and referrals to dentist if needed at no costs to students. The program provided dental exams and cleanings to over 40 students during the two days they visited Diman. Polished, LLC will be continuing their partnership with Diman next school year. Story (with photo) continues.
Radiology SuccessCongratulations to all the Dental Assisting juniors for successfully passing the Dental Assisting National Board exam in Radiology. Great job guys!
Diman to Offer Free Dental Exams and Teeth Cleaning to StudentsOn May 19th and May 27th, Polished LLC will be at Diman Regional Vocational High School in Fall River to provide dental exams and teeth cleaning to students at no cost. Hygienists will be working in the school’s dental assisting shop and be assisted by dental assisting students. All Diman students are eligible to receive this service. Informed consent and health history forms are available in the dental assisting shop for interested students. Learn more here.
Going dental: More students, space energize Diman programKaren Cirillo leaned over a table, holding a shiny, fake tooth about the size of her hand. Seven students eagerly awaited her directions, holding fake teeth of their own. Story continues.
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