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Dental Assisting: Oral Radiography
Dental Assisting: Oral Radiography
at Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore Catalog
Dental Assistants work in dental offices assisting dentists in providing services to patients. The majority of the work is performed for procedures that include the development of impressions, assisting with treatment such as fillings and root canals, and preparation of patient operatory. They may assist in reception and scheduling duties, sterilization of instruments, cleaning, and disinfection of operatories, exposing radiographs, and other duties. Hours are generally standard daytime with some evening and weekend flexibility depending on the facility. This course prepares students to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board’s Radiation Health and Safety Exam which is required to become a Dental Radiation Technologist in Maryland. This course is open to students who have had previous training at a dental office or facility. Students should be detail-oriented, and demonstrate dexterity (good at working with hands), interpersonal skills, listening skills, and organizational skills which are all essential for success. See Technical Standards at the end of this document.
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Example Career
Dental Assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Showing wage data for:
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$38,300
$48,150
$59,220
$18.41
$23.15
$28.47
Admissions
All students must be computer literate and have Internet access. Students must have the following paperwork turned in two weeks PRIOR to the start of the program:
- High School Diploma or GED (self-report to DANB)
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Students are required to use Brightspace (an online learning platform) to complete some assignments and tests in the course. Basic computer literacy and internet access are recommended.
- All other documents provided at the information session that require signatures
- Letter from dentist verifying employment
- Individuals must have been employed as a clinical dental assistant for at least one year in a dental practice or facility.