Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)
At a Glance
- Degree: Dental Assisting
- Certificate: Dental Assisting
- Certification: Missouri Expanded Function Dental Assisting
Program Highlights
- The only affiliated program with UMKC Dental School
- Unique opportunity to work in integrated clinical setting alongside dental students and faculty members
- Trains DA students in Missouri permitted advanced chairside skills
- Expanded Functions in Restorative I (placing amalgam & composite fillings)
- Orthodontics (placing and removing bands, brackets etc)
- Removable Prosthetics and Fixed Prosthetics courses
- Hands-on training to operate state-of-the-art Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)
- Classes and hands-on preclinical training are held at the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute
- 300+ hours of hands-on clinical training through rotations at UMKC School of Dentistry and community-based/private-practice clinics
Careers
Dental assistants play an integral role in the flow and efficiency of dental care. According to the O*Net online, annual wages for entry level dental assistants is $59,200. A certified dental assistant who have passed national board exam can practice as Expanded Function Dental Assistants in Missouri can receive more salary annually than entry-level DAs due to their advanced skills sets.
Bright outlook for Dental Assistants in the Kansas City area. Visit Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to view salary information, employment outlook and personal characteristics needed for this career.
Program Admission
Additional steps are required for acceptance into this program beyond the standard MCC admission application. The program accepts a new cohort of students every spring that begins during the summer semester.
Program Accreditation
The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312.440.4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: coda.ada.org.
Program Costs
Tuition:
- DENA AAS: 75 credit hours with fees - In-district: $121/credit hour ($126 beginning Fall 2026), Out-of-district/Metro rate: $237/credit hour ($246 beginning Fall 2026), Out-of-state/International: $320/credit hour ($332 beginning Fall 2026)
- DENA CERTIFICATE: 55 credit hours with fees - In-district: $121/credit hour, Out-of-district/Metro rate: $237/credit hour, Out-of-state/International: $320/credit hour
Program Outcomes
Dental assistants play an integral role in the flow and efficiency of dental care. MCC's Dental Assisting program is the most established program in the area and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation in the KC area. It has a good reputation for quality graduates and consistent 100% success rates on the national dental assisting board exam.
Professional Certification/Licensure
Students will sit for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) as part of the program. The Infection Control (ICE) and Radiation Health Safety (RHS) examinations are taken at the end of the fall semester, and the General Chairside (GC) examination is taken at the end of the spring semester. Successful completion of this examination allows program graduates to use the professional credentials CDA, Certified Dental Assistant.
Scholarships
MCC provides plenty of sources to fund your education, including federal aid, loans, state aid, veterans benefits and more. For information, contact the MCC-Penn Valley financial aid office at 816.604.1000. Apply for financial aid 6-10 months prior to enrollment. MCC scholarship application deadline for the fall semester is March 1.