Embarking on a career in dental assisting is a rewarding path, offering the opportunity to work alongside dental professionals and contribute to patient care. A well-structured dental assistant program is crucial for building the necessary skills and knowledge for success in this field. This overview delves into the comprehensive courses offered in a typical Dental Assistant Entry Level Program, designed to equip you with industry-relevant expertise and prepare you for your career step.
Program Orientation: Your Dental Assistant Journey Begins
The program commences with an orientation to set the stage for your learning experience. This initial phase, titled Program Orientation: Dental Assistant Entry Level, is designed to formally initiate you into the program and outline the exciting journey ahead in your dental assistant training.
Foundational Knowledge: Introduction to Dental Assisting
The course Introduction to Dental Assisting lays the groundwork by exploring the history of dentistry and the evolution of dental practices. You’ll gain insights into:
- The historical perspective of dental disease and the progression of dentistry.
- The nine recognized specialties within the field of dentistry, providing a broad understanding of the different areas you might encounter.
- Essential career skills that dental assistants perform daily, clarifying your role within the dental team.
- The regulatory framework by understanding who oversees the Dental Practice Act and the licensing procedures for dental professionals.
- Legal and ethical responsibilities, including managing dental records, understanding implied and informed consent, handling subpoenas, and adhering to statutes of limitations.
- The significant impact of the HIPAA law on dental offices and the parameters for maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.
Ensuring Safety: Dental Infection Control
Dental Infection Control is paramount in any dental setting. This module provides critical training on maintaining a sterile and safe environment for both patients and the dental team. Key learning points include:
- Understanding the transmission pathways of pathogens within a dental office setting, enabling you to break the chain of infection.
- Knowledge of various disinfectants used in dentistry and their specific applications for different surfaces and instruments.
- Hands-on experience in identifying and utilizing different types of sterilizers, ensuring effective instrument sterilization.
- Mastering the correct protocols for disinfecting, cleaning, and sterilizing procedures in various areas of the dental practice – from operatory preparation before patient seating to end-of-treatment procedures, radiography areas, and the dental laboratory.
- A thorough understanding of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Hazardous Communication Standard, ensuring compliance and workplace safety.
- Demonstrating the safe disposal of sharps, minimizing the risk ofNeedle-stick injuries and biohazard exposure.
- Proper selection and utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all clinical staff, creating a barrier against infection.
Understanding the Human Body: Basic Dental Sciences
To provide effective chairside assistance, a solid foundation in basic sciences is essential. Basic Dental Sciences course covers crucial aspects of human anatomy and physiology, focusing on areas relevant to dentistry:
- Identification of structures and functions of key body systems: skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, and immune systems.
- Detailed knowledge of the oral cavity, including landmarks of the tongue, salivary glands, and floor of the mouth.
- In-depth study of the maxilla and mandible arches and their anatomical landmarks.
- Understanding the function of the facial temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its role in jaw movement.
- Comprehensive knowledge of tooth structure, including the four stages of tooth development, location, function, and anatomical landmarks of each tooth.
- Components of the periodontium – alveola bone, gingiva, and mucosa – and their importance in dental health.
- Overview of microorganisms: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, yeast, and molds, and their relevance to oral health and infection.
- Understanding different types of immunity and the routes of infection for microorganisms.
Promoting Wellness: Oral Health and Nutrition
Oral Health and Nutrition emphasizes the crucial link between diet and dental well-being. This course teaches you to educate patients on maintaining optimal oral health through nutrition:
- Understanding plaque formation and its detrimental effects on teeth, enabling you to explain preventive measures to patients.
- Providing age-appropriate oral hygiene tips for different patient demographics, from children to seniors.
- Defining fluoride and explaining its role in preventing dental caries and promoting remineralization.
- Detailed understanding of nutrients – carbohydrates, fiber, fats, proteins, and amino acids – and their impact on oral health.
- Identifying food sources, functions, and deficiency implications of fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and essential minerals.
- Understanding the oral health implications of eating disorders, allowing for sensitive patient interaction and support.
- Exploring the relationship between diet, culture, and oral health, enabling culturally competent patient education.
Mastering Dental Terminology: Tooth Morphology and Dental Charting
Accurate communication and record-keeping are vital in dentistry. Tooth Morphology and Dental Charting equips you with the necessary skills:
- Proficiency in identifying dental arches and quadrants using correct dental terminology, ensuring clear communication with dental professionals.
- Listing primary and permanent teeth by name and location using dental nomenclature.
- Identifying and naming the surfaces of each tooth, facilitating precise charting and documentation.
- Defining anatomical structures of teeth and related oral structures and their definitions.
- Detailed descriptions of each permanent and primary tooth, including location, anatomical features, morphology, function, position, and identifying factors for accurate tooth identification and charting.
- Understanding various dental charting systems and the symbols used to represent different conditions in the oral cavity.
- Defining G. V. Black’s six classifications of cavity preparations, a fundamental aspect of restorative dentistry.
- Mastering basic dental charting terminology for accurate and efficient record-keeping.
Pharmacology and Emergency Preparedness: Dental Pharmacology and Medical Emergencies
Being prepared for medical emergencies is a critical responsibility in a dental office. Dental Pharmacology and Medical Emergencies training ensures you are ready to assist in various situations:
- Understanding terminology related to drugs, pharmacology, and medicines commonly used in dentistry.
- Identifying the components of a written prescription, ensuring accuracy in prescription handling.
- Knowledge of different routes of drug administration.
- Understanding the common drugs used in dentistry and their applications in various dental procedures.
- Recognizing and preparing for potential emergency situations that may arise in a dental office.
- Defining terms and understanding the anatomy involved in CPR delivery, enabling you to assist in life-saving measures.
- Listing and describing the signs and treatments for common medical emergencies such as syncope, asthma, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, hyperventilation, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke/cerebrovascular accident.
- Identifying and describing dental emergencies patients may experience, including abscessed tooth, alveolitis, avulsed tooth, broken prosthesis, soft tissue injury, broken tooth, and loose crown, and understanding initial management steps.
Imaging Techniques: Dental Radiology
Dental Radiology provides essential knowledge and skills in dental radiography, a crucial diagnostic tool:
- Describing different types of radiation and understanding their properties and safety considerations.
- Identifying the components of a dental x-ray unit and understanding the function of each part.
- Understanding and applying the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle and using lead aprons with cervical collars for patient radiation safety.
- Describing various types of film exposures, including periapical, bitewing, and occlusal radiographs, and their diagnostic purposes.
- Understanding and applying the paralleling principle and the bisecting principle and techniques for accurate radiographic imaging.
- Describing the process of taking radiographs on diverse patient populations, including occlusal, pediatric, edentulous, endodontic radiographs, and patients with special needs or medical compromises.
- Explaining the procedures for duplicating and mounting dental radiographs for proper storage and viewing.
- Identifying factors that contribute to producing high-quality diagnostic radiographs.
- Understanding the fundamental concepts, advantages, and disadvantages of digital radiography, a rapidly evolving technology in dentistry.
- Identifying extraoral films and describing techniques for taking panoramic and cephalometric radiographs.
Patient Interaction and Record Keeping: Preparation for Dental Patient Care
Effective patient communication and meticulous record-keeping are cornerstones of quality dental care. Preparation for Dental Patient Care focuses on these essential skills:
- Describing the components of the communication process and how effective communication impacts patient experience.
- Demonstrating understanding of nonverbal communication cues, including spatial awareness, posture, facial expressions, gestures, and perception.
- Discussing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and its application to patient communication and understanding patient motivations and behaviors in a dental setting.
- Identifying and explaining common dental patient phobias and anxieties and strategies to address them.
- Identifying sources of office stress and demonstrating conflict resolution techniques for a harmonious work environment.
- Describing general behavioral considerations for multicultural patient populations, promoting culturally sensitive care.
- Explaining the development of patient records and the importance of forms like personal registration, medical and dental history, clinical evaluations, and extraoral and intraoral examination records.
- Performing or assisting the dentist in extraoral and intraoral evaluations, including examining lips, tongue, glands, and the oral cavity.
- Performing and documenting vital signs, including oral and tympanic temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, as essential components of patient assessment.
Protecting Patient Information: Fundamentals of HIPAA
Fundamentals of HIPAA is dedicated to ensuring you understand and uphold patient privacy regulations:
- Describing HIPAA basics and the importance of patient data protection.
- In-depth discussion of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and its implications for handling Protected Health Information (PHI).
- Discussion of the HIPAA Security Rule and the measures required to protect electronic PHI (ePHI).
- Understanding the HITECH Act and its enhancements to HIPAA regulations.
- Explaining regulations for business associates and their responsibilities in HIPAA compliance.
- Summarizing HIPAA documentation and training requirements for dental practices.
- Reviewing applied HIPAA security practices for healthcare professionals in daily workflows.
Managing the Dental Office: Dental Office Management and Employment
Dental Office Management and Employment provides insights into the administrative aspects of a dental practice and career readiness:
- Identifying the different roles within a dental office staff and their respective areas of responsibility.
- Explaining how database management systems are utilized in dental office administration.
- Identifying equipment needed for efficient record management, both physical and digital.
- Defining key terms related to accounts receivable and managing patient billing.
- Identifying accounts payable expenses that a dental practice is responsible for, understanding practice finances.
- Step-by-step guidance on preparing effective cover letters and résumés for job applications.
- Describing the dental job interview process and identifying skills and preparation techniques to improve your chances of getting hired.
- Identifying essential skills and qualities that a successful dental assistant possesses.
- Understanding the professional and ethical procedures for terminating employment, both as an employee and employer perspective.
Professional Development: Externship Readiness Skills and Career Success in Healthcare
These courses, Externship Readiness Skills and Career Success in Healthcare, focus on personal and professional development to ensure career readiness:
- Exploring CareerStep Community career resources, leveraging available support for career advancement.
- Developing effective time management skills, crucial for balancing work and personal life.
- Enhancing creative and critical thinking abilities, essential for problem-solving in a dynamic work environment.
- Integrating critical and creative thinking skills into daily life for personal and professional growth.
- Learning physical and emotional coping techniques to manage stress effectively in a demanding healthcare setting.
- Acquiring methods to maximize verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills for professional interactions.
- Understanding the importance of professional image and its impact on career success.
- Identifying key elements of successful interviews and practicing interview techniques.
- Identifying traits related to self-motivation and self-esteem, fostering personal and professional confidence.
- Incorporating a positive and professional attitude in all interactions with colleagues and patients.
Hands-on Experience: Dental Office and Basic Chairside Assisting
Dental Office and Basic Chairside Assisting bridges theory and practice, providing essential hands-on skills:
- Describing the design and layout of a dental office, understanding the equipment and function of each area.
- Describing the daily routines for opening and closing a dental office, ensuring smooth daily operations.
- Describing the necessary steps to prepare the treatment room for various dental procedures.
- Explaining the protocols for seating and dismissing patients, ensuring patient comfort and efficient workflow.
- Identifying the special needs of certain patient populations and adapting care accordingly.
- Describing and practicing instrument grasps, operator and assistant positioning, and instrument transfer techniques for efficient four-handed dentistry.
- Listing the eight fundamental rules for instrument transfer, mastering efficient and safe instrument exchange.
- Describing and demonstrating techniques for maintaining a clear oral cavity during dental procedures, including retraction and suction.
- Describing techniques for moisture control and isolation, creating an optimal working field for dental procedures.
Restorative and Lab Procedures: Dental Restorative and Laboratory Materials
Dental Restorative and Laboratory Materials focuses on the materials and procedures used in restorative dentistry and dental lab work:
- Differentiating between dental cements, bases, liners, and bonding agents and understanding their specific applications in restorative procedures.
- Explaining the dental assistant’s role in preparing various dental materials for restorative procedures.
- Listing and explaining the properties of different dental materials, enabling informed material selection and handling.
- Identifying different types of dental cements and their specific uses in dentistry.
- Explaining the function of etchants in bonding procedures and their application techniques.
- Describing bonding agents and their manipulation for effective adhesion in restorative dentistry.
- Discussing restorative dentistry procedures, materials, and techniques, including cavity detection, cavity cleaners, disinfectants, and desensitizers.
- Describing the sequential steps of cavity preparation, a fundamental aspect of restorative procedures.
- Explaining the use of glass ionomer, resin, resin-reinforced glass ionomer, and compomer restorative materials, understanding their properties and indications.
- Describing the functions and parts of the Tofflemire matrix system used in restorative procedures.
- Demonstrating the skills to prepare, take, and remove alginate impressions and wax bites, and prepare reversible hydrocolloid and elastomeric impression materials for the dentist.
- Identifying skills necessary to use gypsum products in creating dental models and casts.
- Identifying various classifications and uses of waxes in dentistry, from impression taking to denture fabrication.
- Identifying the steps to fabricate acrylic tray resin self-curing and light-curing custom trays, vacuum-formed trays, and thermoplastic custom trays for various dental procedures.
- Identifying the steps to contour prefabricated temporary crowns and to fabricate and fit custom temporary restorations, providing temporary tooth coverage and function.
Advanced Clinical Skills: Clinical Dental Procedures
Clinical Dental Procedures builds upon chairside assisting skills with more advanced clinical procedures:
- Identifying and describing methods to help patients manage pain and anxiety associated with dental procedures, enhancing patient comfort.
- Listing the steps for preparing for the administration of local anesthetic, assisting in pain management protocols.
- Listing indications and contraindications for placing dental sealants, a key preventive procedure.
- Describing different types of sealant materials – composite, glass ionomer, and filled and unfilled sealants – and their properties.
- Describing and explaining the rationale for each step in the coronal polishing procedure, a crucial preventive and cosmetic procedure.
- Identifying the general steps for procedures and materials used for fixed prostheses, including crowns and bridges.
- Listing the advantages and disadvantages of CAD/CAM technology in restorative dentistry, understanding modern dental technologies.
- Describing patient considerations related to removable prosthetic treatment, including dentures and partial dentures.
- Describing procedures for denture repair and reline procedures, maintaining and restoring removable prostheses.
Exploring Dental Specialties: Dental Specialties
Dental Specialties provides an overview of the diverse fields within dentistry:
- Defining endodontics and describing the role of an endodontist in root canal therapy.
- Identifying instruments and materials used in endodontic procedures and understanding their functions.
- Describing the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery and the procedures performed by oral surgeons.
- Identifying surgical instruments used in various types of oral surgery and understanding their functions.
- Listing indications and contraindications for dental implants, a modern tooth replacement option.
- Explaining the treatment sequence for dental implants, from planning to restoration.
- Identifying oral diseases and lesions related to biological, physical, and chemical agents, broadening diagnostic awareness.
- Distinguishing between oral conditions related to nutritional disturbances, reinforcing the link between nutrition and oral health.
- Defining and describing occlusion and malocclusion, understanding bite and alignment issues.
- Describing preventive, interceptive, and corrective orthodontics, overviewing teeth straightening treatments.
- Describing child behavior management techniques in a pediatric dental setting.
- Identifying signs of child abuse and understanding the legal procedures for reporting suspected cases, fulfilling ethical and legal responsibilities.
- Defining cosmetic dentistry and describing common cosmetic dental procedures.
- Describing types of restorations and materials used in cosmetic dentistry, understanding aesthetic dental options.
- Understanding common procedures in pediatric dentistry, including preventive procedures, restorative procedures, and preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment for children.
Final Assessment and Career Launch: Dental Assistant Entry Level Final Exam, Applying For Your Required Externship*, Clinical Externship*, and Program Completion: Dental Assistant Entry Level
The program culminates in a comprehensive Dental Assistant Entry Level Final Exam to assess your accumulated knowledge and skills. Following successful completion, you’ll move towards practical experience with Applying For Your Required Externship* and Clinical Externship*, providing real-world, hands-on training in a dental office setting. The program concludes with Program Completion: Dental Assistant Entry Level, guiding you on preparing for certification exams and taking the next steps in your dental assistant career. Resources like Quizlet can be valuable tools for reviewing course material and preparing for your final exam and certification. While focused on dental assisting, the skills in exam preparation and career advancement are transferable to other healthcare fields. For those considering diverse career steps after initial experience, fields like medical coding might be an adjacent area of interest within healthcare, and platforms like Quizlet can similarly aid in studying for medical coding certifications.
This detailed curriculum is designed to provide a robust foundation for your career step into dental assisting. By completing this program, you will be well-prepared to contribute effectively to a dental team and provide excellent patient care.
