Instructional units in this course include dental terminology, dental anatomy, instrumentology, x-ray development, and model making. Students keep dental records, perform clerical and bookkeeping duties, and assist the dentist with preparations. Some dental lab work will also be included. Some dental laboratory technicians are “generalists” who do all types of dental appliances, processing plastic material, working with ceramics (porcelain) or making castings of gold or other metal alloys. The level of work done by technicians ranges from the semi-skilled to highly skilled. A course in typing/keyboarding in the home school must be scheduled during the first year of the course unless one was completed prior to entry.

During the senior year, students are required to work in the pediatric dental clinic. This is where they put to use all the knowledge and skills they learned the first two years. Senior students are encouraged to take the radiology exam certification test. Each senior will graduate with CPR certification.

Students are encouraged to job shadow and are given the opportunity with our partner, The Altoona Regional Health System, and various other dentists in the Blair County area. Membership in HOSA benefits the students through participation in activities that not only are fun and rewarding, but also align with the curriculum.

A student desiring to promote oral health, seeking a career in a fast-growing field, and having a background in science and math should consider the Dental Assisting Program.

Occupational Profile: For information on this occupation’s description, required knowledge, job tasks and related job titles, state and national wages, and employment trends, visit the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s site for this career field at:      http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/31-9091.00