Dental Assistant

A dental assistant is a vital employee in many dentists' offices. Dental assistant jobs can vary from office to office, but generally a dental assistant can help sterilize equipment, prepare dental instruments, locate patient records, help patients keep comfortable and assist the dentist during procedures.

Dental assistants are important members of the dental healthcare team. A career as a dental assistant can be exciting, challenging, and very rewarding. The educated dental assistant can look forward to job satisfaction, variety, and financial reward. It is a career that offers entry-level opportunities for individuals interested in the dentistry field. Our course covers everything you need to prepare for an entry-level career in dental assisting.

Prerequisite(s): None

Dental Assistant Module 1
The Dental Assisting Profession

• History of Dentistry
• Education and Professional Development
• Characteristics of a Dental Assistant
• Professional Organizations
• The Dental Healthcare Team
• Job Duties of a Dental Assistant
• Dental Ethics
• Dentistry and the Law
• Dentist-Patient Relationship
• Patient Records and the Law

Dental Assistant Module 2
Sciences in Dentistry

• General Anatomy
• Body Cavities & Regions
• General Physiology
• Body Systems
• Oral Embryology
• Regions of the Head and Neck
• Blood Supply to the Head and Neck
• Landmarks of the Face
• Oral Cavity
• Anatomic Features of Teeth

Dental Assistant Module 3
Oral Health and Prevention of Dental Disease

• Dental Caries
• Periodontal Disease
• Preventive Dentistry
• Plaque Control Programs
• Nutrition and Dental Health
• Food Guide Pyramid
• Eating Disorders and Teeth
• Oral Lesions
• Diseases of the Oral Soft Tissues
• Oral Developmental Disorders

Dental Assistant Module 4
Infection Prevention in Dentistry

• Microbiology and Dentistry
• Viral Diseases
• Bacterial Diseases
• The Chain of Infection
• Modes of Disease Transmission
• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control
• OSHA Standards
• Waste Management in the Dental Office
• Environmental Infection Control
• Classification of Instruments

Dental Assistant Module 5
Occupational Health and Safety

• Regulatory and Advisory Agencies
• Governmental Agencies
• Chemical and Waste Management
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Dental Office Waste Management
• Microorganisms in Dental Unit Water
• Methods for Reducing Bacterial Contamination
• Infection Control and Dental Unit Water
• Ergonomics in the Dental Office
• Muscle-Strengthening Exercises

Dental Assistant Module 6
Patient Information

• The Patient Record
• Patient Record Forms
• Respiration and Blood Pressure
• Oral Examination and Diagnostic Techniques
• The Aging Population
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Drug Dosage and Forms
• Preventing a Medical Emergency
• Emergency Care Standards
• Emergency Responses

Dental Assistant Module 7
Foundation of Clinical Dentistry

• The Dental Office Environment
• Greeting and Seating the Patient
• Team Dentistry Positioning
• Expanded Functions of the Dental Assistant
• Dental Hand Instruments
• Evolution of Rotary Equipment
• Dental Handpieces
• Moisture Control
• Oral Evacuation Systems
• Anesthesia and Pain Control

Dental Assistant Module 8
Radiographic Imaging

• Foundations of Radiography
• Discovery of X-Radiation
• Radiation Effects
• Radiation Safety
• Dental Film and Processing
• Types of Film
• Quality Assurance in the Dental Office
• Intraoral Radiography
• Panoramic Radiography
• Extraoral Radiography

Dental Assistant Module 9
Dental Materials

• Properties of Dental Materials
• Tooth-Whitening Materials
• Dental Liners and Sealers
• Dental Bases and Bonding
• Impression Materials
• Impression Trays
• Laboratory Materials and Procedures
• Safety in the Dental Laboratory
• Pouring Dental Models
• Dental Waxes

Dental Assistant Module 10
Assisting in Comprehensive Dental Care, Part 1

• Cavity Preparation
• Permanent Restorations
• Tooth Whitening
• Fixed Prosthodontics
• Crown and Bridge Procedures
• Types of Provisional Coverage
• Removable Prosthodontics
• Full (Complete) Denture
• Overview of Root Canal Therapy
• Surgical Endodontics

Dental Assistant Module 11
Assisting in Comprehensive Dental Care, Part 2

• Periodontics
• Periodontal Instruments
• Nonsurgical and Surgical Periodontal Treatments
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Preparation and Procedures
• Postoperative Care
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Preventive Dentistry for Children
• Coronal Polishing
• Prophylaxis Angle and Handpiece

Dental Assistant Module 12
Dental Administration and Communication Skills

• Communicating with Patients
• Cultural Diversity
• Written Communication
• Operating Procedures Manual
• Record Keeping
• Appointment Scheduling
• Accounts Receivable
• Marketing Your Skills
• Locating Employment Opportunities
• Salary Negotiations

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses and materials are updated.**