Our Program
About Our Program
Our Dental Assisting Program prepares students to perform the duties of a Dental Assistant in a dental office. Our program consists of 180 hours of on-line classes, in-person lectures/labs and an externship. It is designed to be completed in 8 weeks with the on-line classes completed during weekdays and/or weeknights and the in-person lectures/labs conducted on weekends. An externship follows and is one week.
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The first day of class includes orientation. During orientation students will be introduced to their instructor, given a tour of the dental office, given their textbooks and supplies, and measured for their uniforms. School policies will be reviewed, the on-line system will be reviewed, and students will be given their first on-line assignments.
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The publisher of the course material is Elsevier.
The printed texts are Modern Dental Assisting and Dental Instruments: A Pocket Guide.
The on-line course is Dental Assisting Online.
On-line classes will be conducted through the Evolve Learning Management System by Elsevier.
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Additional learning resources are available through Elsevier’s on-line Resources for Evolve and Elsevier’s on-line Peer Support.
Our Dental Assisting course is 180 hours.
84 Hours On-Line: 42 2-Hour Modules
64 Hours In-Person
4 Hours of Orientation
20 1 Hour Chapter Lectures
32 1 Hour Competency Labs
4 Hours of CPR
4 Hour Final Exam
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32 Hours Externship: 4 8-Hour Workdays
A typical 8 week program looks like:
Week
Saturday or Sunday
Monday thru Friday
1.
Week
Orientation
Chapter 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 1-6
Monday thru Friday
2.
Week
Competency 13
Chapter 10
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 7-12
Monday thru Friday
3.
Week
Competency 15,19,20,21
Chapter 18
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 13-18
Monday thru Friday
4.
Week
Competency 23,26,27,28,29,31,24,CPR
Chapter 22,24,25
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 19-24
Monday thru Friday
5.
Week
Competency 33,34,35,36,37,32
Chapter 32
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 25-30
Monday thru Friday
6.
Week
Competency 39,41,42,43,44,45,40
Chapter 40
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 31-36
Monday thru Friday
7.
Week
Competency 46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,55,57
Chapter 52,53,55,57
Saturday or Sunday
Modules 37-42
Monday thru Friday
8.
Week
Competency 54,56,58,59,61,64
Chapter 61,64
Final Exam
Saturday or Sunday
Externship & Graduation
Monday thru Friday
Our academic program is based on Modern Dental Assisting, 13th Edition, by Bird and Robinson.
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Major topics covered include:
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Oral Embryology and Histology
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Overview of the Dentitions
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Dental Caries
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Preventive Dentistry
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Oral Pathology
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Principles and Techniques of Disinfection
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Medical History
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Vital Signs
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Assisting in a Medical Emergency
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Dental Hand Instruments
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Moisture Control
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Intraoral Imaging
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Restorative and Esthetic Dental Materials
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Dental Cements
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Laboratory Materials and Procedures
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Matrix Systems for Restorative Dentistry
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Provisional Coverage
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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
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Dental Sealants
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Head and Neck Anatomy
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Tooth Morphology
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Periodontal Disease
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Nutrition
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Disease Transmission and Infection Prevention
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Chemical and Waste Management
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Medically and Physically Compromised Patient
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Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
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Delivering Dental Care
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Dental Handpieces and Accessories
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Anesthesia and Pain Control
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Extraoral Imaging
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Dental Liners Bases, and Bonding Systems
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Impression Materials and Techniques
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General Dentistry
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Fixed Prosthodontics
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Endodontics
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Coronal Polishing
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Business Operating Systems
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Foundations of Radiography, Radiographic Equipment, and Radiation Safety
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Principles and Techniques of Instrument Processing and Sterilization
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Digital Imaging, Dental Film, and Processing Radiographs
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Financial Management in the Dental Office