The Dental Therapy Associate Degree is a 87 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.
* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better.
Credit for Prior Learning Available
Examines proven strategies designed to help learners achieve greater personal, academic, and professional success. Learners will apply personal responsibility thinking and behaviors; self- management, awareness, and motivation strategies; as well as interdependence skills to develop a proactive life plan.
Explore advanced infection control measures, occupational safety protocols, and regulatory compliance standards relevant to the dental therapy profession. Students defend the dental profession's ethical standards. This course delves into advanced principles and practices of dental health safety within the context of dental therapy practice.
Examine head and neck anatomy, including CBCT interpretation, odontogenesis, and tooth morphology. Create two-dimensional tooth drawings and three-dimensional tooth models to gain a deeper appreciation for the dentition's form, functions and esthetics as well as the developmental basis of orofacial structures and our dentitions.
Student has completed or is in process of completing all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508201 - Advanced Dental Health Safety
Examine developmental disorders, systemic disorders, oral benign/malignant tumors, odontogenic disorders, infections, immunologically mediated diseases, and genetic disorders. Discuss periodontological topics including: classifications, systemic effects of periodontitis, analyzing clinical data, treatment modalities, surgical periodontics, and other periodontal interventions. Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care.
Student has completed or is in process of completing all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508201 - Advanced Dental Health Safety
Examine the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of dental caries. Through advanced diagnostic techniques and evidence-based strategies, students learn to assess and manage caries risk factors. Emphasis is placed on understanding various interventions' impact on oral health outcomes, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to promote optimal oral health in diverse patient populations.
Student has completed or is in process of completing all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508201 - Advanced Dental Health Safety
Explore dental armamentarium and isolation techniques. Perform simple operative dental procedures in a pre-clinical setting. Students will discuss and practice techniques in tooth preservation, tooth preparation, material selection and final restoration placement for the permanent dentition.
Student has completed or is in process of completing all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508202 - Advanced Oral Anatomy
Provides students with skills and knowledge of organic and biological chemistry necessary for application within Nursing and other Allied Health careers. Emphasis is placed on recognizing the structure, physical properties and chemical reactions of organic molecules, body fluids and acids. Additional emphasis is placed on biological functions and their relationships to enzymes, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and DNA. Keywords: Biochem, Intro to Biochem
Student has completed or is in process of completing all of the following course(s): SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology
Explore scientific principles for the selection and use of oral restorative materials. Explain the properties, composition, and behavior of materials commonly used in dentistry. Emphasis will be placed on factors influencing material selection to enable students to make evidence-based decisions in selecting and applying oral restorative materials to restore dental health and function.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508204 - Advanced Cariology and Nutrition
Create a systematic approach to diagnosing oral health conditions and developing treatment plans relevant to dental therapy practice. Emphasis given to medical disease influences on dental treatment planning and care. Students will interpret diagnostic findings, formulate comprehensive treatment plans, and effectively communicate with diverse patient populations.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508202 - Advanced Oral Anatomy, DENTAL 10508203 - Dental Therapy Basic Sciences
Demonstrate the specialized care of children and adolescents in dental therapy practice. Students will explore the unique aspects of pediatric dental anatomy, growth and development, and common oral health issues affecting pediatric patients.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508205 - Operative I
Demonstrate the management of dental anxiety and pain in patients across the lifespan within dental therapy practice. Students will explore the physiological and psychological aspects of pain and anxiety, including the role of the autonomic nervous system, pain pathways, and the biopsychosocial model of pain perception.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508202 - Advanced Oral Anatomy
Perform compound and complex operative dental procedures ina pre-clinical setting. Students will discuss and practice techniques in tooth preservation, tooth preparation, material selection, and final restoration placement for the primary and permanent dentition. Pre-clinical competency evaluations are completed in this course. This course is a direct continuation of Operative I.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508205 - Operative I
Investigates historical perspectives of microbiology, microscopy, characteristics of procaryotic and eucaryotic microorganisms, control of microbial growth, microbial genetics, and classification of microorganisms, principles of disease, epidemiology, immunology and pathogenic microbiology. Keywords: Micro, Microbio
Student has satisfied all of the following: [Student has completed all of the following course(s): SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology] Or Student has satisfied all of the following: [Student has completed all of the following course(s): ANIMALHU 10091172 - Veterinary Medical Terminology, ANIMALHU 10091214 - Vertebrate Anatomy & Phy 1]
Introduction to the practice of dental therapy clinical skills with faculty supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice. Comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment (simple and compound restorations) and professional ethics are expected.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508206 - Operative II
Discuss and perform oral surgical procedures within the scope of dental therapy practice. Students will assess, diagnose, and manage common oral surgical conditions, including extractions specified by the dental therapy practice act, suturing, and changing periodontal dressings.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508213 - Advanced Dental Anxiety and Pain Management
Public health foundations, indices, and research are integrated into each student’s oral needs assessment and health promotion strategy or intervention for a specific population. Strategies for health, oral health, oral health education and community outreach programs will be created, implemented, and presented.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508204 - Advanced Cariology and Nutrition
Explain pharmacological principles and their applications in dental therapy practice. Special attention will be given to interactions between pharmacological agents and the administration of local anesthetics and analgesics in dental procedures. This course will prepare students to make informed decisions regarding pharmacological interventions in dental therapy practice.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508211 - Dental Therapy Diagnosis & Treatment Planning, DENTAL 10508213 - Advanced Dental Anxiety and Pain Management
The practice of clinical dental therapy skills in the community setting with supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice is addressed in this experiential clinical. Increased cultural awareness and competency occurs here. Comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment and professional ethics are expected.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508206 - Operative II, DENTAL 10508216 - Dental Therapy Clinic I
Plan comprehensive and integrated dental therapy care to patients across diverse populations and settings. Building upon foundational knowledge and clinical skills, students will explore advanced concepts and techniques in treatment planning, case management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508211 - Dental Therapy Diagnosis & Treatment Planning
Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents. Keywords: Written Comm, Comm, Writing
Practice of clinical dental therapy skills in the community setting with indirect supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice is addressed in this experiential clinical. Increased cultural awareness and competency occurs through various community clinical settings. Increased treatment plan, preventative care, and restorative complexity occurs in these varied settings. Comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment and professional ethics are expected. This is a direct continuation of Community Clinic I.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508217 - Community Clinic I, DENTAL 10508218 - Dental Therapy Clinic II
Practice of clinical dental therapy skills with faculty supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice is addressed. Introduction to quadrant dentistry and four-handed dentistry occurs here. Comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment and professional ethics are expected. Competency evaluations start in this clinical. This course is a direct continuation of Dental Therapy Clinic II.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508218 - Dental Therapy Clinic II
Explain and perform prosthodontic care in dental therapy practice. Students will explore the principles and techniques of fixed, removable, and implant prosthodontics. Focus on the restoration and replacement of missing teeth to restore oral form, function and esthetics.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508212 - Advanced Integrated Strategies
Introduces students to the fundamental sociological concepts, including sociological perspectives, research methods, the significance of culture in society, and the socialization process. Other topics include deviance, the impact of groups on behavior, societal inequities, global changes, the role of social institutions, and social stratification
This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development. Keywords: Psych, Intro to Psych
Practice of clinical dental therapy skills with faculty supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice is addressed. Quadrant dentistry, treatment planning and treatment commencement on the same day are anticipated. Proficiency in comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment and professional ethics is expected. Competency evaluations will be completed in this clinical. This course is a direct continuation of Dental Therapy Clinic III.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508220 - Dental Therapy Clinic III
Evaluation of ethical standards utilized in dentistry. Reassessment of the ethical foundations of the dental profession. Dental therapists as members of the oral healthcare profession and their various roles are examined. Capstone projects are created, analyzed, and presented.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508221 - Dental Therapy Clinic IV
Practice of clinical dental therapy skills in the community with indirect supervision for the entire scope of dental therapy practice is facilitated at various facilities in the community. Quadrant dentistry, treatment planning, and treatment commencement on the same day are expected. Proficient and efficient comprehensive intake evaluation, treatment planning, case presentation, dental therapy treatment, cultural competence, and professional ethics is expected. This course is the combined progression of Dental Therapy Clinic IV and Community Clinical II.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508219 - Community Clinic II, DENTAL 10508221 - Dental Therapy Clinic IV
Integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired throughout their dental therapy program. Dental Therapy Transition is a capstone course designed to prepare students for the transition from their academic studies to professional practice as dental therapists.
Student has completed all of the following course(s): DENTAL 10508221 - Dental Therapy Clinic IV
Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication. Keywords: Oral, Oral Comm, Comm, Speech
An exam that is scored by faculty or staff in NTC’s Testing Center.
A performance of your expertise that is evaluated by faculty.
A combination of both a test and a skill demonstration.
A collection and explanation of your past learning through work or life experience.
If you have questions about this program, please contact our Career Coaches at 715.803.1645.
If you have further questions regarding our Credit for Prior Learning options, please contact Student Records at studentrecords@ntc.edu or 715.803.1796.