Dental Assistant | Gateway Technical College

State-of-the-art labs are designed to simulate a professional dental practice and equipped with the tools used in the field to help you learn cutting-edge procedures.
Learn hands-on and work with professional dental equipment, like digital radiography, electronic dental health records and expanded materials in our dental labs.
Gain real-world experience from clinical internships and Service Learning volunteer work with groups like the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.
Qualify for dental assistant scholarships as well as other scholarships offered to students through the Gateway Foundation.
Graduate and get certified. You’ll be prepared to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam, which may increase your chances of employment.
Secure a stable career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts this field will grow 19% in the coming years–much faster than average.

Program Credits

33

LOCATION

Kenosha Campus

Financial Aid Eligible

Yes

ESTIMATED PROGRAM COST

Tuition & Fees: $6,364
Books and Supplies: $2,556

Start Dates

Summer

Salary Outlook

$47,840

Career Opportunities:

Dental Assistant, Surgical Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant, Dental Receptionist

Dental Assistant Career Pathway

Career Pathways are designed to help you reach your educational goals and explore college and career options. Pathways are made up of related certificates, diplomas and degrees that build on common skills and knowledge. You can begin at any point on the Career Pathway and customize your pathway to fit your goals. View the pathway for your area of interest.

There are many opportunities, both in high school and through previous college, work, and/or military experience, to earn credit for prior learning at Gateway.

Technical diplomas help students learn hands-on occupational skills in as little as one or two years for full-time students. Technical diploma opportunities in this pathway include:

Dental Assistant

Prepare to enter your exciting new career, or choose to continue your education with another Gateway program or by transferring your credits to a four-year college or university.

Curriculum Sheet:

31-508-1 Dental Assistant Full-Time 2025-26 Curriculum Sheet.pdf

Course Number: 890-155Credits: 1.00

In this course, students explore the Gateway Technical College community. They examine college resources and services, investigate skills that lead to academic success, and identify strategies for achieving educational and personal goals.

Course Number: 801-302Credits: 1.00

Covers techniques of verbal and non-verbal communication. Presentation techniques in informative, demonstrative, persuasive and impromptu situations are stressed.

Course Number: 801-301Credits: 1.00

Reviews the fundamentals of grammar. Emphasizes practical application of English in business correspondence.

Course Number: 508-304Credits: 2.00

This course prepares dental assistant students to apply fundamentals of general and dental anatomy to informed decision making and to professional communication with colleagues and patients. This course is equivalent to 508-304 at other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-306Credits: 3.00

Students apply skills learned in Dental and General Anatomy, Dental Health Safety, Dental Chairside, Dental Materials, Dental Radiography, and Professionalism in a clinical setting with patients. This course emphasizes integration of core abilities and basic occupational skills.

Course Number: 508-307Credits: 1.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students for professional success in a dental practice or other dental health care environment. Students develop professional appearance and image. More importantly, they learn to work within ethical guidelines and legal frameworks. In preparation for entering the workforce, students customize or develop their portfolios and lay out an ongoing professional development plan. This course is equivalent to 508-307 at other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-302Credits: 5.00

This course prepares dental assistant students to chart oral cavity structures, dental pathology, and restorations to and to assist a dentist with basic dental procedures including examinations, pain control, amalgam restoration, and cosmetic restoration. Students will also develop the ability to educate patients about preventative dentistry, brushing and flossing techniques, and dental procedures, using lay terminology. Throughout the course, students will apply decoding strategies to the correct use and interpretation of dental terminology. This course is equivalent to 508-302 at other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-101Credits: 1.00

This course prepares dental auxiliary students to respond proactively to dental emergencies, control infection, prevent disease, adhere to OSHA standards, and safely manage hazardous materials. Students also take patient vital signs and collect patient medical/dental histories. Students will be required to show proof of CPR certification before beginning this course.

Course Number: 508-113Credits: 2.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students to handle and prepare dental materials such as liners, bases, cements, amalgam, resin restorative materials, gypsum products, and impression materials. They also learn to take alginate impressions on manikins and clean removable appliances.

Course Number: 508-103Credits: 2.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students to operate x-ray units and expose bitewing, periapical, extra oral, and occusal radiographs. Emphasis is placed on protection against x-ray hazards. Students also process, mount, and evaluate radiographs for diagnostic value. In this course, students demonstrate competency on a manikin. In addition, students expose bitewing radiographs on a peer, role-play patient.

Course Number: 508-311Credits: 2.00

Dental Assistant students apply skills developed in Dental Chairside - Advanced, Dental Lab Procedures, Dental Radiography - Advanced, and Dental Office Procedures in a clinical setting with patients that emphasizes integration of core abilities and basic and advanced occupational skills. This course is equivalent to 508-311 at other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-308Credits: 5.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students to adapt chairside skills to assisting with dental specialties as they are performed in general practice. It focuses on pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Students will also develop the ability to assist with sealants, perform coronal polishing, and apply topical fluoride and topical anesthetics. This course is the equivalent to 508-308 at other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-309Credits: 4.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students to produce alginate impressions and fabricate diagnostic models, oral appliances, temporary restorations, and custom trays. Students also polish oral appliances. This course is equivalent to 508-309 in other WTCS schools.

Course Number: 508-120Credits: 2.00

This course prepares Dental Assistant students to manage telephones, appointments, recall systems, and inventory. Students also develop the skills needed to process accounts receivable and payable, collections, and third party reimbursements.

Course Number: 508-310Credits: 1.00

This course builds on principles and skills developed in Dental Radiography. Dental Assistant students expose full mouth series, extra-oral, and specialized radiographs on adult and child patients. Emphasis is placed on protection against x-ray hazards. Students will also process, mount, and evaluate radiographs for diagnostic value. In addition, they will use radiographs to explain dental health and treatment plans to patients. This course is the equivalent of 508-310 at other WTCS schools.

Ready to apply? We're here to help! Join us for a Get Ready Application workshop. Our New Student Specialists will answer any questions and assist you with the application process. Register for a workshop today.

Admissions Requirements

Application for Admission & Application Fee
Official High School Transcript or GED/HSED Credential, including a graduation or passing date.
Students must meet one of the following multiple measures: earned a technical diploma or higher,* earned a minimum high school GPA of 2.6, earned a minimum college GPA of 2.0 or submit ACT or Accuplacer test scores. Submit any needed transcripts or test scores. *Please note short term technical diplomas do not fulfill Multiple Measures. These programs include Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT, and Truck Driving.
Order Background Check ONLY (CBC). Upon completing your order, the BID will be on your To-Do List. Download, print, and then upload the completed BID to your myCB within 30 days of your CBC order. BID's not uploaded within 30 days may result in the need to place a new CBC order.
- Student Instruction Form
For additional background check information, read and understand the Criminal Background Checks and Health Program Students information.
Review the program technical standards. An acknowledgement of these standards will be completed within the online application.

Petitioning

This program has a required admission petition. Students are awarded seats by having met the program petition requirements, program acceptance date and current residency status. Students with earlier program acceptance dates and Gateway district (Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties) residence have priority over students with later program acceptance dates or who are outside of the Gateway district and/or residents outside of Wisconsin. See our Petitioning webpage for additional information.

Clinicals

The program of study that you have selected has a required clinical component for graduation. Each clinical placement has site specific requirements which may include COVID-19 vaccination requirements. There is a limited availability for clinical sections that accept waivers for COVID-19 vaccinations. It is the student's responsibility to register for sections that allow waivers for COVID-19 vaccinations. Clinical requirements are subject to change with little or no notice.

Note: Due to federal clock-to-credit regulations, three of the Dental Assistant program courses are not fully financial aid eligible. Students can reduce the financial aid impact by following their scheduled part-time or full-time curriculum track. Learn more.

After Petitioning

After being awarded a seat through the petitioning process:

This program has a required admission petition. Click for details on petitioning.

Order Medical Document Manager ONLY (health forms/records and CPR). Upon completing your order, the required health forms and CPR requirements will need to be uploaded. Prior to petitioning you will only be required to upload a copy of your valid CPR. After being awarded a seat, you will be required to complete the remainder of the items in your Health Portal and eLearning as soon as possible so that you can receive clearance to participate in clinicals.
- Student Instruction Form
Castlebranch is the current vendor for Criminal Background Checks, Health Portal/Medical Document Managers, and e-learning. Students who previously ordered through Viewpoint Screening are still eligible to use their Viewpoint Screening Portal for Medical Documentation and eLearning. If previously ordered Criminal Background Checks through Viewpoint have expired, new orders will be placed through Castlebranch

Background and Health Information requirement questions?
Please contact the Admissions Office at admissionsoffice@gtc.edu.

The program in dental assisting is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA CODA) [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.

Because we are accredited by ADA CODA, our graduates are eligible to apply for the Certified Dental Assistant examination offered through the DANB. Passing the exam signifies the dental assistant holds the highest level of proficiency in their occupation and makes graduates more attractive to employers.

Infection Control Policy Statement

A student in the Dental Assistant program is at an increased risk for exposure to a variety of diseases, including but not limited to, Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and COVID-19. Because of these risks, students will be expected to follow all infection control/exposure control guidelines that have been established by the program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection control is a priority consideration in dental practice and in the Dental Assistant Program. With the increased publicity surrounding infectious diseases, dentists and dental personnel are becoming more aware that the dental environment is a potential source for one or more of these diseases. Accordingly, infection control in dentistry is undergoing changes and will continue to be a rapidly evolving and dynamic issue as new technology, research information, and legal precedents emerge.

The prevention of cross contamination and transmission of infection to all persons, whether patients, dentists, dental personnel or non-clinical staff, is the professional responsibility of all dental personnel. A fundamental principle of an effective infection control program is to exercise care, follow standard precautions and effective control techniques that can keep infectious microbes within the manageable limits of the body’s normal resistance to disease. To achieve this goal, and pursuant to its commitment to provide a safe therapeutic environment, the Dental Assistant program has adopted policies and procedures which represent a comprehensive and practical infection control program.