Dental Assistant

Hours: 300 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $1,595.00

Course Overview:

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.

Dental assistants are important members of the dental healthcare team. A career as a dental assistant can be exciting, challenging, and very rewarding. The educated dental assistant can look forward to job satisfaction, variety, and financial reward. It is a career that offers entry-level opportunities for individuals interested in the dentistry field. Our course covers everything you need to prepare for an entry-level career in dental assisting.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend core elements of the dental profession and the role of the dental assistant
• Identify oral anatomy and physiology
• Define dental diseases and the role nutrition plays in prevention
• Identify strategies for infection prevention in the dental office
• Identify the steps for completing dental assisting procedures
• Comprehend the importance of Occupational Health and Safety and protecting patient information

Course 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
• 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
• 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 Prevention in Dentistry

• Microbiology and Dentistry
• Viral Diseases
• Bacterial Diseases
• The Chain of Infection
• Modes of Disease Transmission
• CDC Guidelines for Infection Control
• OSHA Standards
• Waste Management in the Dental Office
• Environmental Infection Control
• Classification of Instruments
• Instrument Processing Area
• 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
• Your Posture
• Repetition and Force
• Muscle-Strengthening Exercises

Dental Assistant Module 6
Patient Information

• The Patient Record
• 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
• 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 Handpieces
• Moisture Control
• Oral Evacuation Systems
• Anesthesia and Pain Control
• Local Anesthesia
• General Anesthesia

Dental Assistant Module 8
Radiographic Imaging

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

Dental Assistant Module 9
Dental Materials

• Properties of Dental Materials
• Tooth-Whitening Materials
• 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
• 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, Part 2

• 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
• 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
• Marketing Your Skills
• Locating Employment Opportunities
• Salary Negotiations
• Achieving Career Objectives

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.