Dental Office Assistant

240 Hours/Instructor Supported/Textbooks included

Overview

This dental assistant course is an excellent first step in learning more about a career as a dental assistant. A dental assistant is a vital employee in many dentists' offices. Dental assistant jobs can vary from office to office, but generally a dental assistant can help sterilize equipment, prepare dental instruments, locate patient records, help patients keep comfortable and assist the dentist during procedures.

Our detailed curriculum can provide a thorough introduction about the work of a dental assistant on a number of key topics, including:

• Introduction to the dental assistant profession
• The dental healthcare team
• Dental anatomy
• Oral exam and dental charting
• Dental instruments
• Preparing the treatment room
• Various dental specialty practices
• Dental radiography
• Labeling and filing dental x-rays
• And more!

Outline

Dental Assistant Module 1

The Dental Assisting Profession

• History of Dentistry
• Education and Professional Development
• Characteristics of a Dental Assistant
• Professional Organizations
• The Dental Healthcare Team
• Job Duties of a Dental Assistant
• Dental Ethics
• Confidentiality
• Dentistry and the Law
• Dentist-Patient Relationship
• Patient Records and the Law

Dental Assistant Module 2

Sciences in Dentistry

• General Anatomy
• Body Cavities & Regions
• General Physiology
• Body Systems
• Oral Embryology
• Oral Histology
• Regions of the Head and Neck
• Blood Supply to the Head and Neck
• Landmarks of the Face
• Oral Cavity
• Overview of Dentitions
• Anatomic Features of Teeth
• Tooth Morphology
• Anterior Permanent Dentition
• Posterior Permanent Dentition

Dental Assistant Module 3

Oral Health and Prevention of Dental Disease

• Dental Caries
• The Caries Process
• Diagnosis of Caries
• Periodontal Disease
• Systemic conditions Linked to Periodontal Disease
• Preventive Dentistry
• Plaque Control Programs
• Nutrition and Dental Health
• Food Guide Pyramid
• Eating Disorders and Teeth
• Oral Pathology
• Oral Lesions
• Diseases of the Oral Soft Tissues
• Oral Developmental Disorders

Dental Assistant Module 4

Infection Control in Dentistry

• Microbiology and Dentistry
• Viral Diseases
• Bacterial Diseases
• The Chain of Infection
• Methods of Disease Transmission
• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control
• OSHA Standards
• Waste Management in the Dental Office
• Environmental Infection Control
• Surface Contamination
• Classification of Instruments
• Instrument Processing Area
• Sterilization Monitoring
• Methods of Sterilization

Dental Assistant Module 5

Occupational Health and Safety

• Regulatory and Advisory Agencies
• Governmental Agencies
• Chemical and Waste Management
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Dental Office Waste Management
• Microorganisms in Dental Unit Water
• Methods for Reducing Bacterial Contamination
• Infection Control and Dental Unit Water
• Ergonomics in the Dental Office
• Posture
• Repetition and Force
• Muscle-Strengthening Exercises

Dental Assistant Module 6

Patient Information

• The Patient Record
• Privacy Policy in the Office
• Patient Record Forms
• Understanding Vital Signs
• Temperature and Pulse
• Respiration and Blood Pressure
• Oral Examination and Diagnostic Techniques
• Patient Charting
• The Treatment Plan
• Medically and Physically Compromised Patient
• The Aging Population
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Drug Dosage and Forms
• Preventing a Medical Emergency
• Emergency Care Standards
• Emergency Responses

Dental Assistant Module 7

Foundation of Clinical Dentistry

• The Dental Office Environment
• Reception Area
• Treatment Areas
• Care of Dental Equipment
• Delivering Dental Care
• Knowing Your Patients
• Greeting and Seating the Patient
• Team Dentistry Positioning
• Expanded Functions of the Dental Assistant
• Dental Hand Instruments
• Evolution of Rotary Equipment
• Dental Hand pieces
• Moisture Control
• Oral Evacuation Systems
• The Dental Dam
• Anesthesia and Pain Control
• Local Anesthesia
• General Anesthesia

Dental Assistant Module 8

Dental Radiology

• Foundations of Radiography
• Discovery of X-Radiation
• Radiation Effects
• Radiation Safety
• Dental Film and Processing
• Types of Film
• Legal Considerations
• Quality Assurance in the Dental Office
• Intraoral Radiography
• Full Mouth Survey
• Radiographic Technique Errors
• Panoramic Radiography
• Extraoral Radiography
• Digital Radiography

Dental Assistant Module 9

Dental Materials

• Properties of Dental Materials
• Direct and Indirect Restorations
• Dental Liners and Sealers
• Dental Bases and Bonding
• Classification of Dental Cements
• Cement Removal
• Impression Materials
• Impression Trays
• Laboratory Materials and Procedures
• Safety in the Dental Laboratory
• Pouring Dental Models
• Custom Impression Trays
• Dental Waxes

Dental Assistant Module 10

Assisting in Comprehensive Dental Care, Part 1

• Cavity Preparation
• Permanent Restorations
• Tooth Whitening
• Matrix Systems for Restorative Dentistry
• Fixed Prosthodontics
• Crown and Bridge Procedures
• Types of Provisional Coverage
• Polymer and Polycarbonate Crowns
• Removable Prosthodontics
• Full (Complete) Denture
• Types of Dental Implants
• Endodontic Procedures
• Overview of Root Canal Therapy
• Surgical Endodontics

Dental Assistant Module 11

Assisting in Comprehensive Dental Care, Part2

• Periodontics
• Periodontal Instruments
• Nonsurgical and Surgical Periodontal Treatments
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Preparation and Procedures
• Postoperative Care
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Preventive Dentistry for Children
• Coronal Polishing
• Prophylaxis Angle and Handpiece
• Dental Sealants
• Orthodontics
• Orthodontic Records and Treatment Planning
• Headgear and Adjustment Visits

Dental Assistant Module 12

Dental Administration and Communication Skills

• Communicating with Patients
• Cultural Diversity
• Phone Skills
• Written Communication
• Operating Procedures Manual
• Record Keeping
• Appointment Scheduling
• Inventory Management
• Financial Management in the Dental Office
• Preventive Account Management
• Accounts Receivable
• Payroll and Payroll Deductions
• Marketing Your Skills
• Locating Employment Opportunities
• Salary Negotiations
• Achieving Career Objectives

Textbook included with course:

• Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting - Textbook and Workbook Package (Hardcover), 9^th Edition by Doni L. Bird CDA RDH MA and Debbie S. Robinson CDA MS

·         Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition -- Book and CD-ROM by Dorlarnd

Instructor:  Wendy Dalton, R.N.

Computer Requirements

Internet Access

·         Broadband or high-speed internet access is strongly recommended. Broadband includes DSL, cable, and wireless connections.

·         Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Moodle pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware

·         Virtually all Windows-Mac-Linux hardware configurations and processors are acceptable.

·         1 GB RAM recommended

Software

·         Operating Systems

§  Windows XP or Vista and Mac OS X 10 and higher, most Linux distributions

·         Web Browsers

§  Mozilla Firefox 2 and 3 (previous versions will work also)

§  Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8

§  Safari is not currently recommended as it cannot display certain Moodle editing menus for both students and instructors