Curriculum

Classes times will normally take place on Saturdays from 8:00 am – 2.00 pm. Dental office ex/internships will occur at local dental offices in the area.

Week 1

Lecture: Introduction to Dental Assisting Profession. Sciences in Dentistry. Oral Anatomy. Overview of dentition. Tooth morphology.
Lab: Alginate impressions. Pouring models.

Week 2

Lecture: Oral Health and Prevention of Dental Disease.
Lab: Trimming models. Fabricating bleaching trays. Performing caries assessment test. Performing proper brushing and flossing.

Week 3

Lecture: Infection prevention in Dentistry. Occupational Health and Safety. Principles of sterilization. Moisture control.
Lab: Infection control: Treatment room and sterilization area. Processing and packaging instruments for sterilization. Operating autoclave. Sterilization monitoring (spore test). Placing isolate, rubber dam, HVE, and saliva ejector. Placing gauze, cotton rolls, and cheek retractors.

Week 4

Lecture: Patient Information: New patient (DISC description). Dental Records. Vital Signs. Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. Introduction to Dentrix software.
Lab: Checking blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen level. Dentrix: Creating a patient file. Entering existing oral conditions, treatment plan and clinical notes into the chart. Periodontal charting.

Week 5

Lecture: Assisting in a Medical Emergency. Medically compromised patient. Anesthesia and Pain Control. Introduction to Sedation Dentistry. Principles of Pharmacology.

Lab: CPR Training (Certificate). Assisting with transferring patient from wheelchair into a dental chair. Vital signs monitoring: blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen level (pulse oximeter). Preparing and placing topical anesthetic. Assembling syringe for local anesthesia. Passing syringe to the dentist.

Week 6

Lecture: Foundation of clinical dentistry. Structure of the dental office. Dental instruments, handpieces, and rotary instruments.

Lab: Instrument passing techniques. Using rheostat light, turning on water for handpiece, attaching handpiece to the unit, placing rotary instrument into a handpiece. Placing water bottle, running waterlines, flashing suction lines, adjusting assistant chair, placing dental chair in supine and sub-supine position, changing light bulb on chair light.

Week 7

Lecture: Radiology (X-Ray) training (Certificate). Extra-oral and Intro-oral Imaging.
Lab: Taking full mouth series of x-rays (FMX), panoramic x-ray (PAN), and intra-oral photos.

MIDTERM TEST

Week 8

Lecture: Dental materials. Introduction to Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry. Classification of filling restorations. Filling procedure set up and chairside assisting in composite and amalgam filling restoration.
Lab: Filling procedure instrument set up. Assembling, placing, and removing matrix system and wedge for class 2, 3, and 4 restorations.

Week 9

Lecture: Crown and Bridge restoration. Crown and bridge procedure set up and chairside assisting step by step. Provisional crown and bridge Fabrication techniques.
Lab: Taking preliminary impression for provisional crown. Taking bite registration and opposing impression. Mixing IRM. Provisional crown fabrication (posterior and anterior).

* Dental office internship: week 1.

Week 10

Lecture: Endodontic Procedures, Post and Core. Introduction to Periodontal Dentistry.
Lab: Root canal procedure set up. Chairside assisting with RCT procedure. Chairside assisting in composite filling, crown, and bridge procedure. Provisional bridge fabrication (posterior and anterior). Chairside assisting with provisional and permanent crown cementation.

* Dental office internship: week 2.

Week 11

Lecture: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Assisting in Extraction Procedure. Removable Prosthodontics. Dentures.
Lab: Surgical and simple extraction instruments set up. Chairside assisting in surgical procedures.

* Dental office internship: week 3.

Week 12

Lecture: Introduction to Pediatric Dentistry. Overview of children dentition. Pediatric procedures and parent education. Introduction to Orthodontic Dentistry. Employment opportunities and marketing yourself.
Lab: Assisting in sealant and topical fluoride placement. Assisting in orthodontic brackets, wires, and ties placement. Building resume and preparation for Job Interview. Explore job opportunities via Dental Post.

Week 13

Lecture: Dental Administration and Communication Skills. Financial Management and Marketing.
Lab: Final hands-on test.

* During your internship(s), it is imperative that you arrive and leave on time, dressed, and groomed appropriately, show your desire to learn and help others. After each internship day, have a dental office staff member fill out a report of your experience in the office. If you find any situation uncomfortable in the office, please contact the instructors immediately.

Programs List

Expanded Duties

Administrative Assistant

Dental X-Rays

Dental Assistant Program