Dental Assistant Course Descriptions
DENTL 100: Orientation to Dental Assisting
Credits: 2.0Introduction to the field of dentistry, roles/responsibilities of dental team, dental terminology, and legal and ethical aspects of dental practice. Concepts and procedures of preventive dentistry and oral health education are also included. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in AHE 116. Corequisite(s): DENTL 101. Crosslisted as: n/a.
Course Level Objectives
- Describe the members of the dental team and outline their roles and responsibilities.
- Explain the basic concepts of four-handed chairside assisting.
- Demonstrate skills necessary to chart and record medical and dental histories.
- Apply patient management skills appropriate for the communication of pre-operative and postoperative instructions to patients.
DENTL 101: Chairside Assisting
Credits: 2.0Preclinical instruction on the principles of clinical chairside dental assisting, dental equipment use and maintenance, safety, instrument identification, tray set-ups by procedures, and patient data collection. Emphasis on patient management during restorative procedures. Corequisite(s): DENTL 100.
Course Level Objectives
- Assist with general dentistry procedures and demonstrate proficiency in four-handed chairside assisting techniques.
- Demonstrate skill and knowledge on tray set-up and identify instruments per procedure.
- Demonstrate knowledge of dental equipment, anesthetics, hand and rotary instruments while performing chairside techniques.
- Identify instruments, supplies and equipment necessary for restorative procedures utilized in general dentistry.
- Assist in the collection of diagnostic data and maintainand maintain paper and electronic patient health records.
DENTL 103: Infection Prevention and Control
Credits: 2.0Infection control and proper sterilization procedures in the dental office. Students will apply the principles and techniques of disinfection, instrument processing, and sterilization.
Course Level Objectives
- Explain the concepts of how microorganisms cause diseases including types and stages of infections and the function of the immune system in relation to breaking the chain of disease transmission.
- Describe the rationale for performing infection control procedures utilized to interfere with the mode of transmission of microbial spread in the dental office.
- Explain the components of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Bloodborne Pathogen Standard as it relates to infection control protocols in dentistry.
- Explain and demonstrate the principles and techniques of disinfection and instrument processing and sterilization according to specified guidelines.
- Demonstrate proper handling of chemical and biohazardous waste in the dental setting.
DENTL 105: Dental Sciences I
Credits: 3.0Covers oral and dental structures, head and neck anatomy, oral embryology and histology, and the relationship of oral and dental anatomy to dental procedures and treatment. Includesanatomy and morphology of teeth, the eruption sequence and process; normal occlusion, development, and class of malocclusions. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in AHE 110.
Course Level Objectives
- Utilize dental anatomical terms to identify head and neck structures.
- Differentiate between normal and variation of normalcy in the appearance and development of oral and dental structures.
- Identify sites for application of topical anesthesia.
- List the fundamental concepts in head and neck manipulation, occlusal record and orthodontic diagnosis.
DENTL 106: Dental Sciences II
Credits: 2.0Oral pathology and disease processes, pharmacology, and therapeutics. Includes techniques for taking and reading vital signs. Emphasizes recognition, prevention, and management of medical emergency situations in the dental office. Covers completing and updating patient health history. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in DENTL 105.
Course Level Objectives
- Compare and contrast characteristics of healthy oral tissue with pathological conditions of the oral cavity.
- Differentiate developmental disorders and anomalies of the teeth and surrounding tissues.
- Recognize common medical conditions which could lead to an emergency in the dental setting.
- Demonstrate the techniques for taking and reading vital signs.
- Identify and describe the various drugs used in the management of medical emergencies.
DENTL 110: Dental Radiography
Credits: 3.0Theory and techniques of exposing intra-oral and extra-oral radiographs on adults, children, edentulous adults, and special needs patients. Covers dental anatomy, radiographic interpretation and aseptic techniques. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in DENTL 105. Corequisite(s): DENTL 111.
Course Level Objectives
- Identify the properties of radiation, explain the biological effects of radiation exposure and illustrate the safety precautions to be utilized when using radiation.
- Identify the components of a dental x-ray unit and explain the function of each component.
- Describe the different types of x-ray images performed in the dental setting and their purpose in diagnosis and treatment.
- Identify normal anatomic landmarks and normal tooth anatomy on dental radiographs.
- Identify dental caries, periodontal disease, trauma, and pulpal and periapical lesions on radiographs.
- List the step-by-step procedures for patient preparation, equipment preparation, exposure sequence, and film placement for the various types of radiographs including but not limited to: bite-wing technique, panoramic radiography, and various extra-oral radiographic projections.
- Describe common errors in technique and exposure for the various types of images and state the corrections required for each error.
DENTL 111: Dental Radiography Lab
Credits: 2.0Practical application of radiography principles, obtaining and processing of radiographic images on dental manikins. Corequisite(s): DENTL 110.
Course Level Objectives
- Demonstrate the use of the correct settings for impulses, milliamperes, and kilovolt peak in radiography.
- Expose Full Mouth Series (FMS) and Bitewings (BWXs) images on manikins and live patients, using digital technology in a safe and effective manner.
- Chart and document according to industry standards.
- Assess the diagnostic quality of images taken, identify errors if present and retake if necessary.
DENTL 113: Dental Materials/Lab Procedures I
Credits: 2.0Introduction to dental materials and techniques utilized for various laboratory, restorative and clinical applications. Includes both didactic information and laboratory practice with products including gypsum, impression materials, waxes, cements, restorative materials and thermoplastic resins. Safety is emphasized. Prerequisite(s): DENTL 105. Corequisite(s): DENTL 114.
Course Level Objectives
- Describe the properties, applications, indications, and contraindications of dental materials used in general dentistry.
- Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry in anticipation of transferring skills to chairsideassisting.
- Describe the role and duties of a dental assistant in the use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry.
DENTL 114: Dental Materials/Lab Procedures II
Credits: 2.0Covers intermediate concepts of dental materials. Includes both didactic and laboratory practice with the processes and materials used during the construction of fixed and removable prosthesis. Introduces dental materials used in various dental specialties. Corequisite(s): DENTL 113.
Course Level Objectives
- Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in prosthodontics and various dental specialties in anticipation of transferring skills while assisting chairside.
- Perform, at an intermediate level, dental material laboratory duties while demonstrating professionalism, safety, and asepsis techniques.
DENTL 115: Dental Office Administration
Credits: 2.0Role of the dental assistant in front office administration. Includes appointment scheduling, management of patient records, filing systems and processing dental insurance claims. Dental office computer software for both financial and patient records will also be covered. Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in DENTL 100.
Course Level Objectives
- Demonstrate entering new patients, scheduling of patients, insurance completion, recall and accounts receivable utilizing industry standard software.
- Demonstrate proper completion of paper and electronic business office forms.
- Describe the dental office inventory control system.
- List the duties and responsibilities of a dental assistant as a business administrator relative to secretarial duties, records management, bookkeeping, accounts payable, payment plans, and collections.
DENTL 120: Dental Assisting Externship
Credits: 4.0Clinical experiences in chairside dental assisting procedures commonly performed in a general dental office including radiology procedures and work with materials and impressions.Students will assist dentists in accomplishing necessary dental procedures for patients while rotating through the clinical areas to obtain maximum clinical exposures and experiences. Students will be supervised and evaluated by on site clinical staff and clinical faculty. Prerequisite(s): DENTL 100, DENTL 101, DENTL 103, DENTL 105, DENTL 106, DENTL 110, DENTL 111, and DENTL 114.
Course Level Objectives
- Perform basic clinical duties as taught in the dental assisting program.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply four-handed dentistry techniques in all aspects of dentistry.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with other members of the dental team to deliver high quality, safe and empathetic oral care services that meet individual client needs.
- Demonstrate effective communication styles and sensitivity to client needs in receiving treatment.