Fall semester classes focus on building skills in basic science, head and neck anatomy, dental materials, pre-clinical procedures (general and specialty), professionalism, infection control and chemical/hazard communication. Students learn in the state-of-the-art Dental Clinic and dental materials simulation lab(s).
In Spring semester, students complete classroom studies in dental practice management, preventive dental health education, dental office emergencies, oral pathology, dental pharmacology and radiology. Students also participate in direct patient care two days each week, with the following rotations at the Adams UNC School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill:
Students also receive clinical rotations at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, the Wake County Human Services Dental Clinic, Wake Smiles and the Dental Hygiene Department at Wake Tech. Direct, on-site supervision is provided by Wake Tech Dental Assisting faculty during clinical rotations.
Summer term studies consist of a psychology course – students who have previously taken PSY-118 or -150 are exempt – and weekly seminar sessions designed to share the previous week's clinical experiences. Topics also covered during seminar sessions include employment preparation (final resume production), budgeting and current dental topics in the news. Students provide direct patient care three days per week in general and specialty practices that have an affiliation agreement with the college. Each clinical site received an orientation prior to student assignment. A Dental Assisting faculty member visits each clinical site every week. The identified supervising dental assistant serves as a mentor for the student during these clinical rotations.