Program faculty possess education, training, and practical experience appropriate to the subjects they teach. At minimum, instructors are either Certified Dental Assistants with relevant chairside experience or dental students in good standing at the Indiana University School of Dentistry who have successfully completed the clinical and academic training required to instruct assigned topics. All clinical instruction is provided under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Faculty teaching radiography must also meet applicable Indiana Department of Health requirements for radiography education and clinical supervision. The Allied Health Education Program Manager has a Masters in Education – Learning and Teaching.
Trinity Free Clinic’s Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level employment through a distinctive combination of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training provided concurrently at Trinity’s active dental clinic. Students begin clinical rotations on the second day of the program, immediately applying new skills while working alongside licensed dentists, certified dental assistants, dental students, and other experienced dental professionals serving uninsured and underserved patients.
The 12-week program covers infection control, sterilization, operatory preparation and turnover, dental anatomy and terminology, tooth numbering and surfaces, instrument identification, patient care, dental materials, chairside assisting, clinical documentation, dental radiography, professionalism, and workplace readiness. Students receive a provisional dental radiography permit and begin taking X-rays under appropriate supervision during week four. By graduation, students have completed 12 weeks of chairside clinical experience and approximately eight weeks of hands-on radiography experience.
Students prepare for and take the Dental Assisting National Board Radiation Health and Safety examination before completing the program, giving every participant the opportunity to meet an essential requirement for obtaining an Indiana Dental Radiographer License. Tuition includes the resources needed for success, including classroom instruction, clinical rotations, textbooks, scrubs, technology, radiography training, and the certification examination. Graduates enter the workforce with substantial hands-on experience and the credentials needed to compete for in-demand, higher-paying dental assisting positions.
Additional requirements for admission:
Applications must be received 4-6 weeks prior to the program start date. Upcoming class dates are:
Students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for a stipend to help wtih transportation expenses. The stipend averages $100 per week.