Dental Assisting: Program overview
About
Welcome to PCC and the HEP Pathway
Welcome to Portland Community College and the start of your path to a rewarding career!
The Healthcare & Emergency Professions (HEP) pathway provides opportunities for students to gain certificates, degrees, licensure, and/or credentials to further their careers in healthcare and emergency services fields. Many of our programs provide hands-on learning opportunities with advanced technology, practical training in clinical settings, and instructors with industry experience. Program graduates are in high demand in the healthcare and emergency professions industry and have the potential to earn excellent wages and benefits.
For more information about the Healthcare & Emergency Professions pathway, see the programs offered. See the Healthcare programs comparison chart to compare degrees and certificates offered, program costs, and potential salaries offered in each career path.
Welcome to Dental Assisting
Welcome to the Portland Community College Dental Assisting Program!
We are thrilled to have you join our Dental Assisting program at Portland Community College. As you embark on this exciting journey, we want to extend a warm welcome and provide you with all the essential information to help you succeed.
Our program is designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience necessary to excel in the dynamic field of dental assisting. Here, you’ll find a supportive learning environment, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and guidance from experienced faculty members dedicated to your success.
In this handbook, you’ll find important details about the program structure, clinical requirements, academic policies, and student resources. Please take the time to review each section carefully, as it will help you navigate through your educational experience and make the most of the opportunities available to you.
We are committed to your success and are here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to our faculty and staff. We look forward to seeing you thrive in our program and making a positive impact in the field of dental assisting.
Welcome aboard!
Best regards,
The Portland Community College Dental Assisting Program Team
About Dental Assisting
Dental Assisting Overview – PCC Catalog
Dental Assistants Pledge
I solemnly pledge that, in the practice of my profession, I will always be loyal to the welfare of the patients who come under my care, and to the interest of the practitioners whom I serve.
I will be just and generous to the members of my profession, aiding them and lending them encouragement to be loyal, to be just, and to be studious.
I hereby pledge to devote my best energies to the service of humanity in that relationship of life to which I consecrated myself when I elected to become a Dental Assistant.
Dr. C.N. Johnson
Dental Assistant Creed
- To develop initiative – having the courage to assume responsibility and the imagination to create ideas and develop them.
- To be prepared to visualize, take advantage of, and fulfill the opportunities of my calling.
- To be a co‐worker – creating a spirit of cooperation and friendliness rather than one of fault‐finding and criticism.
- To be enthusiastic – for therein lies the easiest way to accomplishment.
- To be generous, not alone of my name but of my praise and my time.
- To be tolerant with my associates, for at times I too make mistakes.
- To be friendly, realizing that friendship bestows and receives happiness.
- To be respectful of the other person’s viewpoint and condition.
- To be systematic, believing that system makes for efficiency.
- To know the value of time for both my employer and myself.
- To safeguard my health, for good health is necessary for the achievement of a successful career.
- To be tactful – always doing the right thing at the right time.
- To walk on the sunny side of the street, seeing the beautiful things in life rather than fearing the shadows.
- To keep smiling always.
Adapted from Juliette A. Southard
Mission and values
Mission statement
Portland Community College’s Dental Assisting program is dedicated to student success by providing high-quality education that aligns with the needs of the dental community. The program is committed to sustainability and fosters a collaborative culture that emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the healthcare field.
Vision statement
Our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative dental assisting education, empowering students to excel in a dynamic and inclusive healthcare environment. We aspire to shape the future of dental care by fostering excellence, advancing sustainability, and championing a culture of diversity and equity in every aspect of our program.
Goals and objectives
- Access and student success: The program will provide access to quality dental assisting education through evidence-based instruction and innovative technology that meet current industry standards. This approach is designed to prepare students for successful completion of national and state examinations required for certification and entry into the workforce.
- Economic development: The program will create partnerships that effectively link PCC’s dental assisting students with the local dental industry, enhancing practical application and preparation for employment upon graduation.
- Environmental sustainability: The program will support PCC’s mission of sustainability by offering quality education with the most up-to-date dental equipment and technology, thus maintaining the integrity of environmental ecosystems.
- Quality education: The program will deliver student-centered, evidence-based quality education through a variety of progressive and innovative platforms. This approach aims to develop both hard skills and soft skills, including critical thinking, self-management, and self-assessment.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion: The program will promote an environment of cultural awareness and inclusiveness that acknowledges each individual’s worth and uniqueness, thereby stimulating economic growth and contributing to a more diverse workforce.
- Ethics and responsibility: The program will prepare dental assisting students to uphold ethical and responsible standards by adhering to the statutes, regulations, and guidelines provided by governing agencies.
Graduate achievement
The program effectively prepares students to be successful on their certification exams. The following is data for the graduating class of 2024:
- 100% first time pass rate on the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Infection Control Exam (ICE)
- 100% first time pass rate on the DANB Radiation Health and Safety Exam (RHS)
Accreditation
Portland Community College is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). For more information, see the college’s Accreditation webpage.
The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation which accredits dental, advanced dental and allied dental education programs.
Notice of opportunity to file complaints
The Commission on Dental Accreditation will review complaints that relate to a program’s compliance with the accreditation standards. The Commission is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.
A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 or by calling 1-312-440-4653.
Costs
In addition to the costs of attending Portland Community College, there are expenses associated specifically with the Dental Assisting program. Students should review the costs listed on the Dental Assisting program costs webpage. Please note that all costs are approximate and subject to change.
Leadership
Janeen Hull
PCC – Academic & Career Pathways Dean
See the PCC Organizational Guide for information about college administration.
Contacts
- Jessica August, BSDH, MSDH, CDA, RDH, FADHA: Program Dean
- Renee Lawson RDH, EPDH, CDA, EFDA, EFODA, BFA, MPS: Full-time Faculty and Faculty Department Chair
- List of Faculty
Portland Community College
Vanport Building
1810 SW 5th Ave., Floor 3
Portland, Oregon 97201
Telephone: 971-722-4909
College mailing address:
PO Box 19000
Portland, Oregon 97280-0990
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee and the staff of the Dental Assisting program collaborate to ensure that the program delivers instruction that is current, up-to-date, and relevant to contemporary business, industry, labor, and professional employment practices. Advisory committees provide essential support and guidance to academic programs. The PCC Dental Sciences Advisory Committee consists of the program dean, full-time faculty, admissions and advising staff, and a diverse group of clinicians from public health, private practice, and corporate practice settings. These clinicians represent the field of dentistry as dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists. The advisory committee meets twice annually and includes student representatives from the Dental Assisting program as well as from the first and second years of the Dental Hygiene program.