Dental Assistant

This course prepares students to provide first aid procedures (Standard First Aid Level C), perform CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner while providing students with the requisite knowledge to recognize, prevent, and assist in medical and dental emergencies.

Get an overview of the dental field and the day-to-day role of a dental assistant, covering both clinical and office tasks.

This course provides a brief survey of the human skeletal structure, the structure and function, and anatomy of the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, and sensory systems and the medical terminology associated with each. Building on this knowledge, students will then examine in detail the structure and anatomical features, function, physiology, dental morphology, and development of the facial complex and neck and oral cavity.

Infection-control procedures are designed to prevent the spread of disease. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of microbiology as applied to dental clinic settings, with an emphasis on the principles of infection, transmission, prevention, and control, and aseptic techniques (barrier protection and techniques, moisture control, surface asepsis, precleaning and disinfecting, sterilization) and the role and responsibility of the dental assistant for infection control.

This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of diseases of the oral cavity through a person’s life, their clinical manifestations, and the knowledge and skills necessary to detect and differentiate oral tissue anatomy deviations from the norm.

Get familiar with medications commonly used in dentistry, including their uses, effects, and safety practices.

The patient file should be a highly accurate, legal, and compliant record of clinical, diagnostic, treatment, and outcome histories. In this course, students will learn how to obtain and/or review and update medical and dental patient histories so that this information will assist with evaluation, treatment planning, and subsequent care.

Understand and handle materials like dental cements, composites, and impression materials that are essential in dental treatments.

Learn techniques to help patients prevent dental issues, such as plaque control, fluoride treatments, and proper oral hygiene.

Safely take and develop X-rays, which are crucial for diagnosing dental problems, while adhering to radiation safety guidelines.

On occasion, general dental practitioners encounter circumstances that require them to refer patients to dental specialists. Students will learn to assist with a variety of procedures performed in specialized dentistry; oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, and pediatrics.

Effective and efficient administrative office procedures are essential to the success of any organization. In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamental principles and workflow of a professionally organized and managed dental office. The focus will be on dental reception skills and will include the organization and management of patient records, appointment scheduling, dental claims, financial procedures, inventory control, and the utilization of dental management software.

Practice the hands-on tasks a dental assistant performs daily, from instrument preparation to chairside assistance.

Learn effective communication and care techniques to make patients feel comfortable and supported during dental visits.

Students will work under the direct supervision of the dentist in a general dental practice. Students will apply and build on the skills learned in assisting chairside with instrumentation preparation, sterilization, infection prevention, and safety practices. Students will also assist with office and patient management.

Students will work under the direct supervision of a dentist in a general dentistry office to advance their intra-oral knowledge and skill sets, further integrate theory into practice, and demonstrate consolidation of knowledge and skills across the complete spectrum of their regulated scope of practice.

No, this program teaches all the skills you need to become a dental assistant.

You’ll get a Dental Assistant Certificate and be eligible for the National Dental Assisting Board exam.

The program includes tests, hands-on practice, and final evaluations to check your skills.

Yes, you’ll need some textbooks and essential tools for training.