About our Dental Assisting Program

Dental Assisting 100     Introduction to Dental Assisting

Provides an introduction to dentistry; establishes fundamentals of the dental assisting profession; licensure, the dental team, and dental specialties.  The student will learn: roles of the dental assistant; specialty fields of dentistry; dental terminology; areas of the dental office; equipment; treatment rooms; sterilization center, and laboratory.  

Dental Assisting 101     Anatomy and Physiology

Students will examine the anatomy of the head and neck and structure and function of the oral cavity for patient assessment. The student will learn: use of dental terminology; composition of the teeth; identify teeth, location, name surfaces, and numbering systems; become familiar with structure of the head and neck, landmarks of the face and oral cavity; locate major anatomical landmarks of the face and oral cavity; identify tissues of the periodontium and characteristics of gingival tissue.  

Dental Assisting 102     Infection Control

Students will examine modes of disease transmission in a dental office; identify   diseases of concern to dental health care workers and explain how each is transmitted; analyze the components of the chain of infection.  The course introduces universal precautions, disease control, CDC guidelines, personal protective equipment, blood borne pathogens, hepatitis B vaccine, medical waste management, and OSHA. Identify differences between cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization, factors in bacterial contamination of dental unit waterlines. This and infection control 202 provides the student a basis and knowledge to prepare for the registration exam offered by the state examiner.  Outside projects may be required for this class.  

Dental Assisting 202  Infection Control Lab

Students will review and demonstrate standard practices in infection control.  Standards include:  disposal of used sharps; treatment room cleanup & preparation; instrument cleaning and sterilization; hand piece maintenance and sterilization; daylight loader infection control, radiograph room preparation.  This and Infection Control 102 provides the student a basis and knowledge needed to prepare for the registration exam offered by the state dental examiner.  Outside projects may be required for this class. 

Dental Assisting 103     Radiology

Students will become familiar with: principles of radiographic physics, biological effects of radiation, patient and operator protection, films, exposure and processing techniques, mounting of films.  Emphasis is on evaluation of films for diagnostic quality including identifying process and exposure errors and corrections.   Full mouth X-ray surveys are taken on mannequins.  This and Radiology 203 provides the student with a basis and knowledge to prepare for the registration exam offered by the state dental examiner.  Outside projects may be required for this class. 

Dental Assisting 203   Radiology Lab

Students will review and demonstrate standard practices in radiology.  Standards include:  bitewing X-rays; periapical X-rays; radiograph room preparation and maintenance; placement of film using Rinn; mounting full mouth x-rays, labeling and storing radiographs; daylight loader infection control; digital X-rays.  This and Radiology 103 provides the student with a basis and knowledge to prepare for the registration exam offered by the state dental examiner.  Outside projects may be required for this class. 

Dental Assisting 104     Chair Side Assisting

The course will describe the clock concept of operating zones; hazards and safety precautions involved when transferring instruments; moisture control, access, and visibility during patient care;  instruction in chair-side assisting; materials; procedures and tray setups used with cements, composites, amalgams, crowns and bridges; assisting in procedures and tray setups in specialties of dentistry including; endodontics, oral surgery and periodontics; information included in the patient's chart; importance of confidentiality; identify the names and abbreviations to describe tooth surfaces; aiding patient in completing a medical history form; and charting during an oral examination. 

Dental Assisting 204     Chair Side Assisting Lab

Students will review and demonstrate standard practices used in clinical dentistry.  The Standards include:  morning and evening routines; admit, seat & dismiss patient; treatment room cleanup & preparation; charting; high volume oral evacuator; mouth rinse; passing instruments; dental dam preparation; dental dam removal;  placement and removal of cotton rolls; topical anesthetic; anesthetic syringe and accessories; loading and unloading syringe; instrument cleaning & sterilization; handpiece maintenance & sterilization; disposal of used sharps. 

Dental Assisting 105     Operative Procedures

Instruction in the preparation of materials used in chair-side assisting such as cements, composites and amalgams, crowns and bridges and the set up required for each. Also studied will be the manipulation of dental materials ordinarily used in the dental office such as gypsum products, alginates, impression materials. 

Dental Assisting 205     Operative Procedures Lab

Students will review and demonstrate standard practices used in operative procedures.  The Standards include: alginate impressions; pour alginate impressions; assist with amalgams; assist with class two amalgams; mixing cements; calcium hydroxide, IRM, zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, glass ionomer.   

Dental Assisting 106     Preventive Care

Students will become familiar with the oral disease process and implementation of preventive techniques to maintain optimal oral health.  Students will know the goals of preventive dentistry, components of a preventive program, use of fluoride; role of plaque in dental disease; instruction to patients on personal oral hygiene: nutrition; flossing; brushing; cariogenic foods; mineralization and demineralization. 

Dental Assisting 107     Office Procedures

Provides instruction on the dental front office including: effective communication; professional image; service expectations; and handling situations.  Introduction to business operating system include: schedule flow; patient flow; appointment scheduling; financial management including: basic dental insurance; dental plans; completing insurance forms; and coding. 

Dental Assisting 108     Dental Law and Ethics

Explains laws pertinent to dental assistants; jurisprudence and ethics; responsibilities of the dental assistant; purpose of the state dental practice act and function of the state board of dentistry; and the Dental Assisting National Board. Students will learn differences between direct supervision and general supervision; who may give consent for treatment; ways in which consent may be given; ownership of patient records and radiographs. Also covered is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Texas Privacy Act. This course provides the student with a basis and knowledge to prepare for the registration exam by the state dental examiner.  Outside projects may be required for this class. 

Dental Assisting 109     Emergency Care

Students learn the types of medical emergencies encountered in a dental office and discuss the role of staff members in managing these emergencies; identify the supplies found in a dental office emergency kit; the purpose of each item; taking and recording a blood pressure; radial pulse; respiration; temperature; treatment for syncope; postural hypotension. Students obtain current CPR certification for health care workers. 

Dental Assisting 110     Preparations for Employment 

Students will identify skills and preparation that will aid in obtaining employment in the dental field including: skills for successful job interviews; completing a job application; preparing a letter of application; preparing a resume'; and preparing a thank you letter following an interview.  

© Copyright 2006 by Cognetex, Inc.