Dental Assistant Program Courses
Our program is divided into in-depth courses and includes a 100-hour externship to gain hands-on experience in the field. As you move through your training, you’ll build relevant industry knowledge and experience that can help prepare you to take the next steps toward on-the-job success.
Program Orientation: Dental Assistant Entry Level
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Initiate the Dental Assistant Entry Level Program
Introduction to Dental Assisting
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Review dental disease and dentistry from the “beginning of time”
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Identify the nine specialties of dentistry.
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Describe the career skills performed by dental assistants.
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Recognize who oversees the Dental Practice Act and how licenses for the dental field are obtained.
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Identify the responsibilities of the dental team in regard to dental records, implied and informed consent, subpoenas, and the statute of limitations.
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State how the HIPAA law has impacted the dental office and identify the parameters of the law.
Dental Infection Control
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Describe how pathogens travel from person to person in the dental office.
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List various disinfectants and their applications as used in dentistry.
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Identify and demonstrate the usage of different types of sterilizers.
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Demonstrate the correct protocol for disinfecting, cleaning, and sterilizing prior to seating the patient, at the end of a dental treatment, in the dental radiography area, and in the dental laboratory.
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Identify the scope of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Hazardous Communication Standard.
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Demonstrate the importance for safe disposal of sharps.
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Identify the proper Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for all clinical staff.
Basic Dental Sciences
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Identify each structures and functions of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic and immune systems
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Identify landmarks of the oral cavity, tongue, salivary gland and floor of the mouth
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Identify the landmarks of the maxilla and mandible arches
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Identify how the facial temporomandibular (TMJ) joints work
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List and describe the four stages of structure of tooth, location, and function of each landmarks.
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Understand the components of the periodontium, alveola bone, gingiva and mucosa.
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Describe the virus, bacteria, protozoa, yeast, and molds
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Describe the types of immunity and microorganisms routes of infection
Oral Health and Nutrition
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Describe how plaque forms and affects the tooth.
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Identify oral hygiene tips that will benefit each age group.
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Define fluoride and describe its use in dentistry.
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Define nutrients found in foods, including carbohydrates, fiber, fats, proteins, and amino acids. Explain how they affect oral hygiene.
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Identify the food sources, functions, and implications of deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and the seven major minerals.
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Understand the oral implications of eating disorders.
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Learn diet and culture and how it relates to oral health.
Tooth Morphology and Dental Charting
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Identify dental arches and quadrants using the correct dental terminology.
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List the primary and permanent teeth by name and location.
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Identify the surfaces of each tooth and their locations.
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List the anatomical structures and their definitions.
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Describe each permanent and primary tooth according to location, anatomical features, morphology, function, position, and other identifying factors.
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Identify charts that use symbols to represent conditions in the oral cavity.
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Define G. V. Black’s six classifications of cavity preparations.
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Describe basic dental charting terminology.
Dental Pharmacology and Med Emergencies
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Identify terms related to drugs, pharmacology, and medicines.
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Identify the parts of a written prescription.
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Identify the routes through which drugs can be administered.
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Demonstrate an understanding of the drugs used in dentistry, and the ways in which they are used.
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Describe several emergency situations that may take place in the dental office. Explain how dental assistants can be prepared for these possibilities.
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Define the terms and anatomy used in CPR delivery.
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List and describe the signs and treatments for syncope, asthma, allergic reactions, anaphylactic reaction, hyperventilation, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke/cerebrovascular accident.
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List and describe several dental emergencies that a patient may have, such as an abscessed tooth, alveolitis, avulsed tooth, broken prosthesis, soft tissue injury, broken tooth, and loose crown.
Dental Radiology
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Describe the radiation types.
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Identify the components of a dental x-ray unit and explain the function of each component.
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Understand the ALARA principle and use the lead apron with a cervical collar for patient safety
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Describe the types of film exposures, including periapical, bitewing, and occlusal radiographs.
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Describe the paralleling principle and the bisecting principle and technique.
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Describe the process of taking radiographs on various patients, including occlusal, pediatric, edentulous, endodontic radiographs, and special needs/compromised patients.
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Explain how to duplicate and mount dental radiographs.
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Identify the means of producing quality radiographs.
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Explain the fundamental concepts, advantages, and disadvantages of digital radiography.
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Identify extraoral films and describe exposing techniques.
Preparation for Dental Patient Care
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Describe the components of the communication process.
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Demonstrate how the following body language is used in nonverbal communication behavior: spatial, posture, facial expression, gestures, and perception.
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Discuss how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is used, and how it relates to communication in today’s dental office.
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Identify and explain dental patient phobias and concerns.
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Identify office stress, and demonstrate how to achieve conflict resolution.
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Describe some general behaviors of multicultural patient populations.
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Explain how the patient record is developed and the importance of the personal registration form, medical and dental information, clinical evaluation, and the extraoral and intraoral examinations.
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Perform or assist the dentist in an extraoral and an intraoral evaluation including lips, tongue, glands, and oral cavity.
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Perform and document vital signs on the patient, including both oral and tympanic temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
Fundamentals of HIPAA
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Describe HIPAA basics.
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Discuss the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
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Discuss the HIPAA Security Rule.
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Describe the HITECH Act.
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Explain regulations for business associates.
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Summarize HIPAA documentation and training.
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Review applied HIPAA security for healthcare professionals.
Dental Office Management and Employment
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Identify the dental office staff and their areas of responsibility.
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Explain how database management concepts can be used in the dental office.
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Identify the equipment needed for record management.
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Define key terms related to accounts receivable.
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Identify the accounts payable expenses that the dental practice is responsible for.
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Identify the steps in preparing a cover letter and a résumé.
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Describe the interview process, and identify the skills and preparation techniques that will aid in obtaining a job.
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Identify the skills that a successful dental assistant possesses.
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Explain how to terminate employment.
Externship Readiness Skills
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Explore CareerStep Community career resources
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Develop effective time management skills
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Enhance your creative and critical thinking
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Integrate critical and creative thinking skills into your life
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Learn physical and emotional coping techniques to deal with stress
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Acquire methods to maximize verbal, nonverbal, and written communication
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Relate the importance of professional image to career success
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Identify key elements of successful interviews
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Identify traits related to self-motivation and self-esteem
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Incorporate a positive and professional attitude in dealing with others
Dental Office and Basic Chairside Assisting
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Describe the design of a dental office, the equipment and function, explaining the purpose of each area
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Describe the daily routine to open and close the dental office
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Describe the necessary steps to prepare the treatment room.
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Explain the necessary steps to seat the patient for treatment and dismiss the patient after treatment is complete.
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Identify the special needs of certain patients.
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Describe the grasps, positions, and transfer of instruments for a procedure.
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List the eight rules for instrument transfer.
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Describe and demonstrate how to maintain the oral cavity.
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Describe techniques for moisture control and isolation.
Dental Restorative and Laboratory Materials
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Differentiate between dental cements, bases, liners, and bonding agents.
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Explain the role of the dental assistant in preparing materials.
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List and explain the properties of dental materials.
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Identify the types of dental cements.
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Explain etchants and their function.
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Describe bonding agents and their manipulation.
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Discuss restorative dentistry and the various materials and techniques involved, including cavity detection and cavity cleaners, disinfectants, and desensitizers.
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Describe the steps of cavity preparation.
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Explain the use of glass ionomer, resin, resin-reinforced glass ionomer, and compomer restorative materials.
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Describe the functions and parts of the Tofflemire matrix.
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Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to prepare, take, and remove alginate impressions and wax bites, prepare reversible hydrocolloid and elastomeric impression material for the dentist.
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Identify the skills necessary to use gypsum products Identify various classifications and uses of waxes used in dentistry.
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Identify the steps necessary to fabricate acrylic tray resin self-curing and light-curing custom trays, vacuum-formed trays, and thermoplastic custom trays.
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Identify the steps necessary to contour prefabricated temporary crowns and to fabricate and fit custom temporary restorations.
Clinical Dental Procedures
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Identify and describe ways to help patient manage pain and anxiety of a dental procedure
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List the steps for preparing for the administration of local anesthetic
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List the indications and contraindications of placing sealants.
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Describe the types of sealant materials, including composite, glass ionomer, and filled and unfilled sealants.
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Describe and explain the rational for each step in the coronal polish procedure.
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Identify the general steps for the procedure and materials used for fixed prostheses.
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List the advantages and disadvantages of the CAD/CAM technology.
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Describe considerations about the patient related to removable prosthetic treatment
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Describe the procedure for a denture repair and a reline procedure
Dental Specialities
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Define endodontics and describe what an endodontist does.
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Identify instruments and material used in endodontic procedures and describe their functions
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Describe the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
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Identify the surgical instruments used in various types of surgery and describe their functions
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List the indications and contraindications for dental implants.
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Explain the steps in the treatment sequence for dental implants
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Identify oral diseases and lesions related to biological, physical, and chemical agents.
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Distinguish among oral conditions related to nutritional disturbances.
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Define and describe occlusion and malocclusion.
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Describe preventive, interceptive, and corrective orthodontics.
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Describe child behavior management techniques.
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Identify the signs of child abuse and the procedure for reporting suspected child abuse.
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Define cosmetic dentistry and describe what is involved in cosmetic dentistry.
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Describe the types of restorations that are placed and materials used for cosmetic restorations.
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Understand common procedures in pediatric dentistry, including preventive procedures, restorative procedures, preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment.
Career Success in Healthcare
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Assess and develop time-management skills
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Develop plans to enhance creative and critical thinking
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Learn the basics of professional communication
Dental Assistant Entry Level Final Exam
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Review Dental Assistant Final Exam instructions
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Take the Dental Assistant Final Exam
Initiating Your Externship
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Create your profile in the Learner Placement Portal
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Review the externship preparation resources
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Explore CareerStep Community career resources
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Understand the benefits of an externship
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Access externship participation eligibility requirements
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Recognize the externship site placement process and considerations
Clinical Externship
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Work with local dentists for real-world, hands-on experience
Program Completion: Dental Assistant Entry Level
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Prepare for certification exams
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Take Certification Practice Exam(s)
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Request voucher for Certification exam.
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