Dental Assistant Program: Your Career Step into Healthcare

Embarking on a career in healthcare offers numerous rewarding paths, and becoming a Dental Assistant is a fantastic entry point into this growing sector. A comprehensive Dental Assistant program is structured to provide you with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed for success in a modern dental practice. This curriculum is carefully designed, progressing through in-depth courses that build upon each other, ensuring you’re well-prepared to take on the challenges and opportunities of this vital role. Let’s explore the detailed course breakdown of a typical Dental Assistant program, outlining the steps you’ll take towards a fulfilling career in dentistry.

Program Orientation: Dental Assistant Entry Level

Introduction to the Dental Assistant Entry Level Program and program expectations.

Introduction to Dental Assisting

History and Evolution of Dentistry: Delve into the fascinating history of dental disease and the evolution of dentistry from ancient times to modern practices.
Specialties in Dentistry: Identify and understand the nine recognized specialties within dentistry, gaining a broad overview of the dental field.
Dental Assistant Career Skills: Explore the diverse range of career skills essential for dental assistants, understanding the multifaceted nature of the role.
Dental Practice Act and Licensure: Learn about the regulatory framework governing dental practices, including the Dental Practice Act and the processes for obtaining licenses and certifications in the dental field.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of the dental team concerning patient records, informed consent, subpoenas, and statutes of limitations.
HIPAA Compliance in the Dental Office: Examine the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on dental offices and identify the key parameters of this crucial law for patient privacy and data security.

Dental Infection Control

Pathogen Transmission in Dental Settings: Describe the common pathways for pathogen transmission within a dental office environment, emphasizing the importance of infection control.
Disinfectants and Sterilization: Learn about various types of disinfectants used in dentistry and their specific applications.
Sterilization Techniques and Equipment: Identify and demonstrate the proper usage of different types of sterilization equipment commonly found in dental practices.
Protocols for Infection Control: Demonstrate the correct protocols for disinfecting, cleaning, and sterilizing dental instruments and surfaces in various scenarios: before patient seating, after treatment, in radiography areas, and in the dental laboratory.
OSHA Standards for Workplace Safety: Identify the scope and requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Hazard Communication Standard, ensuring a safe working environment.
Safe Disposal of Sharps: Demonstrate the critical importance of safe sharps disposal procedures to prevent injury and infection.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Identify and understand the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for all clinical dental staff to minimize exposure to pathogens.

Basic Dental Sciences

Human Body Systems: Identify the structures and functions of major human body systems, including the skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, and immune systems, providing a foundational understanding of human physiology.
Oral Cavity Anatomy: Identify key landmarks of the oral cavity, tongue, salivary glands, and floor of the mouth, crucial for understanding oral health and disease.
Maxilla and Mandible Anatomy: Identify the anatomical landmarks of the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) arches, essential for dental procedures and treatments.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): Understand how the facial temporomandibular (TMJ) joints function, their role in jaw movement, and common TMJ disorders.
Tooth Structure and Function: List and describe the four stages of tooth development, the different structures of a tooth, their location, and function of each part, providing in-depth knowledge of tooth anatomy.
Periodontium and Supporting Structures: Understand the components of the periodontium, including alveolar bone, gingiva (gums), and mucosa, and their importance in tooth support and health.
Microbiology in Dentistry: Describe the characteristics of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, yeast, and molds relevant to oral health and infection.
Immunity and Infection Routes: Describe the different types of immunity and the various routes of microorganism infection in the context of dental practice.

Oral Health and Nutrition

Plaque Formation and Dental Caries: Describe the process of plaque formation and how it affects tooth enamel, leading to dental caries (cavities).
Oral Hygiene for All Ages: Identify effective oral hygiene tips tailored to benefit each age group, from children to seniors, promoting preventative dental care.
Fluoride in Dentistry: Define fluoride and describe its various applications in dentistry for preventing tooth decay and strengthening enamel.
Nutrition and Oral Health: Define essential nutrients found in foods, including carbohydrates, fiber, fats, proteins, and amino acids, and explain how they directly impact oral hygiene and health.
Vitamins and Minerals: Identify the food sources, functions, and oral health implications of deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and the seven major minerals.
Eating Disorders and Oral Health: Understand the significant oral implications and manifestations of various eating disorders, highlighting the dental professional’s role in recognizing these issues.
Diet, Culture, and Oral Health: Learn about the connections between diet, cultural food practices, and their direct relationships to oral health outcomes in diverse populations.

Tooth Morphology and Dental Charting

Dental Terminology and Anatomy: Identify dental arches and quadrants using correct dental terminology, establishing a professional vocabulary.
Tooth Nomenclature: List primary (baby) and permanent teeth by name and location, understanding dental numbering systems.
Tooth Surfaces: Identify the surfaces of each tooth (mesial, distal, buccal, lingual, occlusal/incisal) and their correct anatomical locations.
Anatomical Structures and Definitions: List and define key anatomical structures of teeth and the oral cavity.
Detailed Tooth Description: Describe each permanent and primary tooth according to its location, anatomical features, morphology (shape), function, position in the arch, and other identifying factors for precise tooth identification.
Dental Charting Systems: Identify various types of dental charts and understand the symbols used to represent different conditions in the oral cavity for accurate record-keeping.
G.V. Black’s Cavity Classifications: Define G.V. Black’s six classifications of cavity preparations, a standard system for describing and categorizing tooth decay.
Dental Charting Terminology: Describe and utilize basic dental charting terminology to effectively document findings and treatment plans.

Dental Pharmacology and Medical Emergencies

Pharmacology Terminology: Identify key terms related to drugs, pharmacology, and medicines used in dentistry.
Prescription Components: Identify and understand the essential parts of a written prescription in dentistry.
Drug Administration Routes: Identify the various routes through which drugs can be administered in a dental setting (oral, intravenous, topical, etc.).
Dental Pharmacology: Demonstrate an understanding of commonly used drugs in dentistry, including local anesthetics, analgesics, and antibiotics, and their specific applications in dental procedures.
Emergency Preparedness: Describe several potential medical emergency situations that can occur in a dental office, emphasizing the importance of preparedness.
Dental Assistant’s Role in Emergencies: Explain how dental assistants can be proactively prepared to effectively respond to and manage medical emergencies in the dental practice.
CPR and Basic Life Support: Define key terms and understand the anatomy involved in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) delivery, essential for life-saving interventions.
Common Medical Emergencies: List and describe the signs, symptoms, and immediate treatments for common medical emergencies such as syncope (fainting), asthma attacks, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, hyperventilation, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, and stroke/cerebrovascular accident.
Dental-Specific Emergencies: List and describe several dental emergencies a patient may experience, including abscessed tooth, alveolitis (dry socket), avulsed tooth (knocked-out tooth), broken prosthesis, soft tissue injuries, fractured tooth, and loose crown, and understand initial management steps for each.

Dental Radiology

Radiation Types and Principles: Describe different types of radiation and understand the fundamental principles of radiation physics relevant to dental radiography.
Dental X-ray Unit Components: Identify the components of a dental x-ray unit and explain the function of each component in generating dental radiographs.
ALARA Principle and Radiation Safety: Understand and apply the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle in radiation safety, and correctly use lead aprons with cervical collars for patient protection during x-rays.
Types of Dental Radiographs: Describe various types of dental film exposures, including periapical radiographs (showing the entire tooth and surrounding bone), bitewing radiographs (showing crowns of upper and lower teeth), and occlusal radiographs (showing larger areas of the maxilla or mandible).
Radiographic Techniques: Describe the paralleling principle and the bisecting angle principle and technique for taking accurate dental radiographs.
Radiography for Diverse Patients: Describe the specific procedures for taking radiographs on various patient types, including occlusal radiographs, pediatric radiographs, edentulous (toothless) patient radiographs, endodontic radiographs (for root canal therapy), and radiographs for special needs or medically compromised patients.
Radiograph Processing and Mounting: Explain the processes of duplicating and mounting dental radiographs correctly for viewing and interpretation.
Quality Radiograph Production: Identify key factors and techniques for producing high-quality diagnostic dental radiographs.
Digital Radiography: Explain the fundamental concepts, advantages, and disadvantages of digital radiography compared to traditional film-based radiography.
Extraoral Radiography: Identify extraoral films (panoramic and cephalometric) and describe the techniques for exposing these types of radiographs, which capture broader views of the jaws and skull.

Preparation for Dental Patient Care

Communication Process: Describe the essential components of effective communication, including verbal and nonverbal elements, sender, receiver, message, and feedback.
Nonverbal Communication: Demonstrate an understanding of how different forms of body language are used in nonverbal communication, including spatial relations (proxemics), posture, facial expressions, gestures, and perception.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Dentistry: Discuss how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies to patient communication and care in a dental office, understanding patient motivation and needs.
Dental Patient Phobias and Concerns: Identify and explain common dental patient phobias and anxieties, and strategies for addressing these concerns to create a comfortable experience.
Office Stress and Conflict Resolution: Identify sources of stress in a dental office environment and demonstrate effective conflict resolution techniques for a harmonious workplace.
Multicultural Patient Populations: Describe general behavioral considerations when interacting with multicultural patient populations, promoting culturally sensitive care.
Patient Record Development: Explain how a comprehensive patient record is developed and understand the importance of each component: personal registration form, medical and dental history, clinical evaluation notes, and extraoral and intraoral examination findings.
Extraoral and Intraoral Examinations: Perform or assist the dentist in conducting extraoral and intraoral evaluations, including examination of lips, tongue, glands, and the entire oral cavity, documenting findings accurately.
Vital Signs Measurement: Perform and accurately document patient vital signs, including oral and tympanic temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure, understanding normal ranges and deviations.

Fundamentals of HIPAA

HIPAA Basics: Describe the fundamental principles and purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
HIPAA Privacy Rule: Discuss the HIPAA Privacy Rule in detail, focusing on patient rights regarding their Protected Health Information (PHI) and rules for disclosure.
HIPAA Security Rule: Discuss the HIPAA Security Rule, focusing on the administrative, physical, and technical safeguards required to protect electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI).
HITECH Act: Describe the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and its enhancements to HIPAA regulations, particularly concerning breach notification and increased penalties for violations.
Business Associate Regulations: Explain the specific regulations and responsibilities for Business Associates under HIPAA, who handle PHI on behalf of covered entities.
HIPAA Documentation and Training: Summarize the essential documentation requirements under HIPAA and the importance of comprehensive HIPAA training for all healthcare staff.
Applied HIPAA Security for Healthcare Professionals: Review practical applications of HIPAA security measures for healthcare professionals in everyday practice to ensure patient data protection.

Dental Office Management and Employment

Dental Office Staff Roles: Identify the different roles within a dental office staff and their respective areas of responsibility, understanding team dynamics.
Database Management in Dental Practice: Explain how database management concepts are applied in a dental office for efficient patient record keeping, scheduling, and billing.
Record Management Equipment: Identify the types of equipment and software needed for effective and compliant record management in a dental practice (electronic health records, filing systems, etc.).
Accounts Receivable in Dentistry: Define key terms related to accounts receivable in a dental practice, understanding billing, insurance claims, and patient payments.
Accounts Payable in Dentistry: Identify common accounts payable expenses that a dental practice is responsible for, such as supplies, rent, utilities, and salaries.
Cover Letter and Résumé Preparation: Identify the key steps in preparing a professional cover letter and résumé specifically tailored for dental assisting positions.
Interview Process and Job Skills: Describe the dental job interview process and identify essential skills and preparation techniques that will significantly aid in successfully obtaining a job as a dental assistant.
Skills of a Successful Dental Assistant: Identify the core skills, both technical and soft skills, that a successful dental assistant possesses, including chairside assisting, communication, and organization.
Employment Termination: Explain the appropriate procedures and considerations for terminating employment, both from the employee and employer perspective, ensuring legal compliance and professionalism.

Externship Readiness Skills

CareerStep Community Resources: Explore CareerStep Community career resources available to support job searching and professional development (note: adapt to the actual platform if not CareerStep).
Effective Time Management: Develop and enhance effective time management skills crucial for balancing work, studies, and personal life in a demanding healthcare career.
Creative and Critical Thinking: Enhance both creative and critical thinking abilities, essential for problem-solving and decision-making in a dental setting.
Integrating Thinking Skills: Learn strategies to integrate critical and creative thinking skills effectively into both professional and personal life.
Stress Management Techniques: Learn physical and emotional coping techniques to effectively deal with stress, a common factor in healthcare professions.
Communication Skills Maximization: Acquire methods to maximize verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills for clear and effective interaction with patients and colleagues.
Professional Image and Career Success: Relate the importance of a professional image (appearance, demeanor, ethics) to career success in the dental field.
Successful Interview Elements: Identify key elements that contribute to successful job interviews, including preparation, communication, and follow-up.
Self-Motivation and Self-Esteem: Identify traits related to self-motivation and self-esteem and how to cultivate these for career advancement and personal fulfillment.
Positive Professional Attitude: Incorporate a positive and professional attitude in all interactions with patients, team members, and supervisors, contributing to a positive work environment.

Dental Office and Basic Chairside Assisting

Dental Office Design and Function: Describe the typical design and layout of a dental office, including different areas, equipment, and their specific functions, understanding workflow and efficiency.
Daily Office Routines: Describe the daily routines for opening and closing a dental office, including equipment checks, sterilization protocols, and administrative tasks.
Treatment Room Preparation: Describe the necessary steps for preparing a dental treatment room before patient appointments, ensuring cleanliness, organization, and readiness.
Patient Seating and Dismissal: Explain the proper steps for greeting and seating patients for treatment and for dismissing them after treatment is complete, focusing on patient comfort and flow.
Special Patient Needs: Identify the special needs and considerations for certain patient populations, such as pediatric, geriatric, or patients with disabilities, adapting care accordingly.
Instrument Grasps, Positions, and Transfer: Describe the correct grasps, operator and assistant positioning, and techniques for instrument transfer during dental procedures, promoting efficient teamwork.
Rules for Instrument Transfer: List and explain the eight fundamental rules for effective and safe instrument transfer between the dentist and dental assistant.
Maintaining the Oral Cavity: Describe and demonstrate techniques for maintaining a clear and accessible oral cavity during dental procedures, including retraction and suction.
Moisture Control and Isolation: Describe various techniques for moisture control and isolation in the oral cavity, such as using saliva ejectors, high-volume evacuation, and dental dams, essential for many dental procedures.

Dental Restorative and Laboratory Materials

Dental Cements, Bases, Liners, and Bonding Agents: Differentiate between dental cements, bases, liners, and bonding agents, understanding their compositions, properties, and uses in restorative dentistry.
Dental Assistant’s Role in Material Preparation: Explain the specific role of the dental assistant in preparing and handling various dental materials according to manufacturer instructions and procedural needs.
Properties of Dental Materials: List and explain key properties of dental materials, such as strength, solubility, biocompatibility, and esthetics, influencing material selection for different applications.
Types of Dental Cements: Identify the different types of dental cements (zinc oxide eugenol, glass ionomer, resin cements, etc.) and their specific applications in dentistry (temporary restorations, permanent cementation, etc.).
Etchants and Their Function: Explain dental etchants (acidic solutions) and their function in creating micromechanical retention for bonding materials to tooth structure.
Bonding Agents and Manipulation: Describe dental bonding agents (adhesives) and their manipulation techniques for achieving strong and durable bonds between restorative materials and teeth.
Restorative Dentistry Overview: Discuss the principles of restorative dentistry and the various materials and techniques involved in restoring teeth to function and esthetics.
Cavity Detection and Preparation: Describe methods for cavity detection and the sequential steps of cavity preparation to remove decay and create a shape suitable for restoration.
Cavity Cleaners, Disinfectants, and Desensitizers: Explain the use of cavity cleaners, disinfectants, and desensitizers in preparing teeth for restorative materials, promoting pulp health and bonding success.
Restorative Materials (Glass Ionomer, Resin, Compomer): Explain the uses of glass ionomer, resin (composite), resin-reinforced glass ionomer, and compomer restorative materials, understanding their properties and indications.
Tofflemire Matrix System: Describe the functions and components of the Tofflemire matrix system, used to create a temporary wall for restoring proximal surfaces of teeth.
Impression Materials and Techniques (Alginate, Elastomeric, Hydrocolloid): Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to prepare, take, and remove alginate impressions and wax bites, and prepare reversible hydrocolloid and elastomeric impression materials for the dentist, essential for diagnostic casts and prosthetics.
Gypsum Products in Dentistry: Identify the skills necessary to use gypsum products (plaster, stone, die stone) for creating dental models and casts.
Dental Waxes: Identify various classifications and uses of waxes in dentistry, including pattern waxes, processing waxes, and impression waxes, used in laboratory procedures.
Custom Tray Fabrication: Identify the steps necessary to fabricate acrylic resin self-curing and light-curing custom trays, vacuum-formed trays, and thermoplastic custom trays, used for taking accurate impressions.
Temporary Crown Fabrication: Identify the steps necessary to contour prefabricated temporary crowns and to fabricate and fit custom temporary restorations, protecting prepared teeth while permanent restorations are made.

Clinical Dental Procedures

Pain and Anxiety Management: Identify and describe various ways to help patients manage pain and anxiety associated with dental procedures, employing communication and pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques.
Local Anesthetic Preparation: List the detailed steps for preparing for the administration of local anesthetic, ensuring patient safety and comfort.
Dental Sealants: List the indications and contraindications for placing dental sealants, a key preventative measure against tooth decay.
Sealant Materials: Describe the types of sealant materials available, including composite, glass ionomer, and filled and unfilled sealants, understanding their properties and applications.
Coronal Polishing Procedure: Describe and explain the rationale behind each step in the coronal polishing procedure, used to remove extrinsic stains and plaque from tooth surfaces.
Fixed Prostheses Procedures: Identify the general steps for procedures and materials commonly used for fixed prostheses (crowns, bridges), restoring missing or damaged teeth.
CAD/CAM Technology in Dentistry: List the advantages and disadvantages of CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) technology in dentistry, understanding its impact on restorative procedures.
Removable Prosthetic Treatment Considerations: Describe key considerations related to patients undergoing removable prosthetic treatment (dentures, partial dentures), including patient education and adaptation.
Denture Repair and Reline Procedures: Describe the procedures for denture repair and denture reline procedures, maintaining the function and fit of removable prostheses.

Dental Specialties

Endodontics: Define endodontics and describe the role of an endodontist in diagnosing and treating diseases of the dental pulp and periapical tissues (root canal therapy).
Endodontic Instruments and Materials: Identify instruments and materials used in endodontic procedures and describe their specific functions in root canal treatment.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Describe the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including extractions, implant placement, and corrective jaw surgery.
Surgical Instruments in Dentistry: Identify common surgical instruments used in various types of oral surgery and describe their functions, understanding surgical procedures.
Dental Implants: List the indications and contraindications for dental implants, a modern solution for replacing missing teeth.
Dental Implant Treatment Sequence: Explain the typical step-by-step treatment sequence for dental implant placement, from initial assessment to final restoration.
Oral Diseases and Lesions: Identify oral diseases and lesions related to biological, physical, and chemical agents, understanding oral pathology.
Nutritional Disturbances and Oral Conditions: Distinguish among oral conditions that are related to nutritional disturbances and vitamin deficiencies, recognizing oral manifestations of systemic conditions.
Occlusion and Malocclusion: Define and describe occlusion (how teeth come together) and malocclusion (misalignment of teeth), understanding bite relationships.
Orthodontics: Describe preventive, interceptive, and corrective orthodontics, understanding the principles of teeth alignment and bite correction.
Child Behavior Management in Dentistry: Describe effective child behavior management techniques used in pediatric dentistry to create a positive dental experience for children.
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: Identify the signs of potential child abuse and understand the legal procedure for reporting suspected child abuse, a critical ethical responsibility.
Cosmetic Dentistry: Define cosmetic dentistry and describe the various procedures involved in enhancing the esthetics of a patient’s smile.
Cosmetic Restorations: Describe the types of restorations placed and materials used for cosmetic restorations, focusing on esthetic outcomes.
Pediatric Dentistry Procedures: Understand common procedures performed in pediatric dentistry, including preventive procedures, restorative procedures, and preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment for children.

Career Success in Healthcare

Time Management Skills Assessment: Assess and further develop personal time-management skills to enhance productivity and balance in a healthcare career.
Creative and Critical Thinking Enhancement: Develop plans and strategies to continuously enhance creative and critical thinking abilities for professional growth.
Professional Communication Basics: Learn and refine the fundamental principles of professional communication in a healthcare setting, including effective verbal, nonverbal, and written skills.

Dental Assistant Entry Level Final Exam

Final Exam Preparation: Review comprehensive Dental Assistant Final Exam instructions and guidelines.
Dental Assistant Final Exam: Take the Dental Assistant Final Exam to assess knowledge and competency gained throughout the program.

Applying For Your Required Externship*

Learner Placement Portal Profile: Create a professional profile in the Learner Placement Portal to connect with externship opportunities.
Externship Preparation Resources: Review and utilize provided externship preparation resources, including resume and interview guidance.
CareerStep Community for Externships: Explore CareerStep Community career resources to assist in the search for a suitable externship placement (adapt to the actual platform if not CareerStep).
Benefits of an Externship: Understand the significant benefits of completing an externship, gaining real-world experience and professional networking.
Externship Eligibility Requirements: Access and understand the specific eligibility requirements for externship participation.
Externship Application Process: Understand the detailed steps involved in the externship application process, ensuring a smooth and successful application.

Clinical Externship*

Hands-on Dental Experience: Work directly with local dentists in real dental practice settings to gain invaluable real-world, hands-on experience and practical application of learned skills.*

Program Completion: Dental Assistant Entry Level

Certification Exam Preparation: Prepare thoroughly for relevant Dental Assistant certification exams, enhancing career credentials.
Certification Practice Exams: Take Certification Practice Exam(s) to simulate the actual certification exam environment and identify areas for final review.
Certification Exam Voucher Request: Request voucher for the chosen Dental Assistant Certification exam upon successful program completion.

*CareerStep does not guarantee externships. A learner’s placement in and completion of an externship is solely the learner’s responsibility and may be subject to additional requirements, such as a background check and successful completion of a CareerStep course. This is particularly important for learners seeking to complete their externship in Alabama, District of Columbia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Please note that CareerStep will not sign agreements with sites in the above-referenced states or provide evidence of insurance to those sites.

Completing a Dental Assistant program like this is a significant career step for anyone aiming to join the healthcare industry. While this curriculum focuses on dental assisting, the dedication to comprehensive training and exam preparation is a valuable mindset applicable across various healthcare professions. For instance, those interested in medical billing and coding also require rigorous training and often rely on tools like Quizlet to prepare for their final exams. Regardless of your chosen path within healthcare, whether it’s dental assisting or another specialized field, committing to thorough study and utilizing effective resources are crucial for achieving career success and providing excellent patient care.