This course introduces the student to a brief history of dentistry, the dental team and the profession of dental assisting. They will learn the proper way to take and record vital signs, which include: pulse, respiration and blood pressure. Students will study general anatomy and physiology, mainly focusing on the head and neck anatomy as it relates to dentistry. An overview of dentitions, tooth morphology and landmarks of the face and oral cavity will be discussed. Finally, students will be introduced to the business of operating the dental office, including business communication, and financial management. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

This course focuses on infection prevention in Dentistry and Occupational Health and Safety. Students will study various viral and bacterial viruses including pandemic diseases. They will then discuss the chain of infection, including infection control practices. Students will then practice principles and techniques in instrument disinfection, processing and sterilization. Students will discuss regulatory agencies including OSHA and will have an opportunity to become OSHA certified. This course covers pharmacology and its relationship to dentistry. In addition, the students will be introduced to the skills necessary for the dental assistant to develop preparedness for a dental and medical emergency. Students will have the opportunity to become Health Care Provider BLS certified. Finally, students will learn chemical and waste management and caring for dental unit waterlines. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

The Dental Assisting student will learn how to prepare and care for the patient during dental procedures, working with patients that have special needs, proper way to review medical, dental and health history with the patients. Students will learn the importance of ergonomic positioning for the assistant and the operator. Concepts of chairside assisting are explained, including how to prepare the office for patients and how to seat and discharge dental patients. The students will learn how to transfer instruments to the dentist while chairside assisting and how to maintain the operating field. This includes the use of the dental light, the air/water syringe, the high volume evacuation, saliva ejector and mouth props. Hands-on learning includes identifying instruments, rotary instruments and hand-pieces used in diagnostic and operative dental procedures. This also includes handling, sterilization and storage techniques. Hands-on training on manikins and student partners will allow the student the opportunity to master chairside functions. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

In this course, students will discuss dental materials, such as amalgam and composite, their properties, standards and organizations that regulate materials used in dental restorative procedures. Students will be able to identify dental cements, bases and liners, cavity varnish and bonding agents. Student knowledge and skills are developed with hands-on learning, instruments and tray setups, mixing the materials and understanding what is necessary to prepare, place and cleanup dental restorative materials.

Students will gain knowledge and skills in all phases of removable and fixed prosthodontics treatment, including dentures, partials, cosmetic/esthetic dentistry, dental implant retainers, and core build- ups. They will also be introduced to the many materials utilized in the dental laboratory and during the procedures of removable and fixed Prosthodontics.

Students will learn the steps in cavity preparation, how to handle reversible hydrocolloid materials, take impressions, bite registrations and pour dental models. They will also learn trimming the dental models. Finally, students will learn how to handle final impression materials, fabricated temporary crowns, pack retraction cord, make bleaching trays, and review gingival retraction procedures. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

This course discusses the importance of oral hygiene, Pediatric and Orthodontic Dentistry. The student will learn the skills necessary to brush and floss teeth, maintain healthy teeth and gums, and motivate patients in the proper methods of maintaining optimal oral health. The course covers the many oral hygiene aids and their uses, the types of toothbrushes and their techniques, types of floss, along with the oral hygiene skills for patients with special needs. Adequate nutrition and the importance of choosing the right foods for optimum dental health are also a component of this course. Through the study of common behavior characteristics of children, students will gain the knowledge and skill to understand and manage children of various ages, handle common emergencies, and work with the parents or guardian of the patient. The student will learn the scope of Orthodontics and the procedures and instruments used in Orthodontic Dentistry. Basic Endodontic procedures, such as root canal treatment, pulpotomy and pulpectomy, and surgical Endodontics are clearly defined and demonstrated. Students will master the procedure tray set-ups and the sequence of the procedure, and gain an understanding of pulpal and periapical diseases. Finally, students will also cover the knowledge and skills relating to procedures commonly performed by the Periodontist. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

This course is designed to provide students entry-level skills necessary to consistently produce high quality dental radiographic procedures while limiting radiation exposure to patients, self and other. In this course students will discuss the properties and effects of radiation. The components of a dental x-ray unit are discussed. The function of each component of the x-ray unit is explained as well as the safety precautions. The student will learn how x-rays are produced. This course covers the composition, sizes, types and storage of dental x-ray film. The dental assisting student will learn how to expose quality radiographs on various patients. Both the bisecting and the paralleling techniques for exposing intra-oral films will be discussed. This course demonstrates extra oral x- ray techniques, equipment, film, and production. The student will learn normal and abnormal radiographic landmarks and common x-ray production errors. The knowledge and skills to produce special radiographs, such as, occlusal, pediatric, edentulous surveys, Endodontic radiographs and radiographs on special need patients will be covered. Hands-on training on a patient simulator manikin will allow the student the opportunity to master the safety measures, infection control techniques, the exposure, the processing, mounting, and storage of patient x-rays. Knowledge and skills necessary to ensure quality radiographs are integrated into this course. Professional development exercises and seminars are also included in this course.

The goal of the internship is to foster the student’s personal and professional development as a Dental Assistant. The internship offers the student the unique opportunity to work on a variety of patients with varying conditions under the immediate supervision of a licensed dentist. Throughout the clinical experience the student will build confidence and master their skills as an entry-level dental assistant in a variety of offices, such as, Family, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery and Pediatric Dentistry.