Online Dental Assistant Courses & Program Curriculum

Curriculum Expand All Collapse All

Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal

The Dental Assistant career diploma program prepares students for an entry-level position as a Dental Assistant.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...

Discuss the personal qualifications required to be a dental assistant along with the elements and principles of ethical decision making that underpin good clinical practice
Prepare patients for dental treatments
Identify the necessary materials and instruments for various types of dental treatments
Clean and sterilize dental instruments
Assist the dentist and/or dental hygienist by performing tasks such as handing them the proper equipment, using suction hoses to keep a patient's mouths dry, processing X-rays, properly noting dental charts, and dealing with emergency situations
Advise patients how to maintain proper dental hygiene
Describe how to follow HIPAA requirements while working in a dental office
Describe proper techniques to avoid the transmission of disease in the dental environment
Describe the process of an OSHA site visit
Identify and explain the various types of anesthesia used in the dental profession
Assist the dentist and/or dental hygienist during various types of composite restoration procedures and with the creation of crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and dentures
Identify and explain different instruments and procedures used in the specialty dental fields of endodontic, periodontics, pediatric, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery
Schedule and view appointments, maintain billing records, process insurance claims, maintain employee time cards, adhere to confidentiality requirements, and create e-claims using dental software

Starting Your Program

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.

Objectives:

Understand how to use your Student Portal.
Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.

Introduction to Dentistry and the Dental Assistant

This lesson introduces you to dentistry, dental assisting, and being a part of the dental team.

Objectives:

Identify early developments and major contributors to dentistry from early times through the Renaissance period.
Identify members of the dental health team.
List the various tasks that may be performed by the auxiliary personnel.
Explain the personal qualifications required of a dental assistant.
Describe the different areas of a dental office and the role of the dental assistant in each of these areas.

Dental Terminology and Anatomy

In this lesson, you’ll learn about the oral cavity, parts of the teeth, and the types of teeth.

Objectives:

Define, pronounce, and use dental terminology correctly.
Know the anatomy of the mouth and identify various parts of the mouth, neck, and throat.
Describe the structure of the tooth.
Name the types of teeth, their functions, surfaces, and classification as either anterior or posterior teeth.

Preventive Dentistry and Nutrition

In this lesson, you’ll learn about preventive dentistry and the role of good nutrition in maintaining dental health.

Objectives:

State the primary goal of preventive dentistry.
Discuss dental plaque and calculus and their role in causing dental disease.
Explain the use of fluorides.
Explain how to instruct a patient in home-care techniques.
Explain the role of nutrition in preventive dentistry.

Cavity Classification and Charting

This lesson presents some dental assistant basics.

Objectives:

Identify the types of questions asked on the medical and dental history forms.
List medical conditions and their importance in dental treatment.
Explain what vital signs are, how to take them, and how to record the results.
Use and interpret the different charting symbols.
Identify permanent (adult) and deciduous (baby) teeth using three different systems.
Explain Black’s system of cavity classification.

Dental Law and Ethics

In this lesson, you’ll learn the laws and rules of dentistry and what it means to act in an ethical manner.

Objectives:

Describe the basics of dental jurisprudence and ethical behavior.
Describe what constitutes malpractice.
Discuss the elements and principles of ethical decision making.
Think critically about ethical issues in dentistry.
Describe what HIPAA is, its purpose, and noncompliance penalties.
Explain the differences between privacy, confidentiality, and security.

Additional Course Material:

Learning Aid: Diagrams I

Dental Operatory: Patients, Instrumentation, Moisture Control

In this lesson, you’ll learn about the different instruments and pieces of equipment typically found in a dental operatory.

Objectives:

Identify and understand the use of the major pieces of equipment found in a dental operatory.
Explain the correct seated position of the operator and assistant at chairside.
Demonstrate how to pass instruments in the position of use.
Recognize at least 10 hand instruments and explain their functions.
Describe the major functions of rotary instruments, both high and low speeds.
Explain the moisture control procedures and their purpose.

Disease Transmission, Pathology, and Dental Emergencies

In this lesson, you’ll study the microorganisms that cause disease and how they’re transmitted, oral pathology, and emergencies that you’re most likely to encounter in the dental office.

Objectives:

Describe three types of microorganisms that are of concern in the dental setting.
List the two most common classifications of bacteria found in the oral cavity.
Define many terms related to oral pathology.
Name the most common emergencies in dental offices.
Help the dental team deal with many types of emergencies.

Infection Control

You'll learn about infection control procedures, personal attire, protective barriers, sterilization and disinfection procedures, and why they're so important in the dental office.

Objectives:

Define cleanliness, decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization.
Explain the Universal Precautions that are to be taken with every patient.
Explain the protective barriers used in the treatment room.
Identify the preferred means of sterilization and/or disinfection for items and equipment found in the dental office.
Describe proper hand-washing and gloving procedures.

Additional Course Material:

Learning Aids:

Glasses
Mouth mirror
Bur samples
Evacuator tips samples
Air/water syringe tip samples
Cotton roll samples
Rubber dam material sample
Napkin and bib clip
Diagrams II and III
Sample cleaning packets
Gloves
Mask sample

OSHA Regulations

This lesson introduces you to the OSHA regulations that are intended to minimize employee illness and debilitation due to accidents and disease encountered in the workplace.

Objectives:

Explain the OSHA regulations relating to the dental office.
Develop a plan to implement the bloodborne pathogens standard.
Understand infection control requirements.
Explain how to evaluate workplace hazards.
Discuss how to conduct an OSHA training session.
Describe critical dental office protective procedures and hazard management.

Radiology 1

This lesson will introduce you to radiology.

Objectives:

List the hazards and benefits of x-rays.
Describe cell radiosensitivity and the effects of radiation on cells.
Define the ALARA principle.
List the three types of radiation produced by the machine and their hazards.
Discuss dental film sizes, speeds, components, and storage.
Discuss the types of dental radiographs, why each is taken, and the legal aspects of dental films.

Radiology 2

Your radiology education continues with a more in-depth lesson.

Objectives:

Describe the properties of a quality diagnostic radiograph.
Discuss how to prevent common faults in radiographs.
Describe how to expose radiographs using the bisecting angle technique.
Describe the procedures used to expose extraoral films.
Discuss infection control procedures used in the radiographic process.
Describe the manual, automatic, and instant processing methods for radiographs.

Additional Course Material:

Learning Aids:

Pronunciation audio files
Diagrams IV

Pharmacology and Anesthesiology

This lesson will introduce you to basic pharmacology and its relationship to the dental profession.

Objectives:

Describe the use of drugs in the dental practice.
Discuss the legalities and precautions of handling drugs in the dental office.
Explain the components and uses of topical and local anesthetic agents.
Specify the different methods of administering local anesthesia.
Explain how to prepare an anesthetic syringe and detail the methods of safely recapping after use.
Describe the use of nitrous oxide, and list the hazards and precautions in its use.

Dental Materials, Part 1

In this lesson, you’ll learn about dental materials and how they're used in restorations.

Objectives:

Discuss both the factors that affect dental materials and the properties of dental materials.
Distinguish between the different types of dental cements and discuss their use.
Describe dental amalgam, including its components and mixing procedures.
Identify the principles of cavity preparation and the different cavity classifications.
Explain the purpose of a matrix band, retainer, and wedge.
List the steps for completing an amalgam restoration.
Explain what a composite material is, its use, and setting methods.

Dental Materials, Part 2

In this lesson, you’ll continue to learn more about dental materials.

Objectives:

Compare impression materials that are used in the dental office.
Explain the water/powder ratio, setting time, setting expansion, and final strength of each type of dental gypsum product.
Explain the characteristics and uses of inlay, baseplate, sticky, boxing, and utility waxes.
Explain how to construct a custom tray, its purpose, and the materials used.
Explain the purpose of a bite registration.
Describe how to trim a stone or plaster cast for general and orthodontic uses.

Additional Course Material:

Learning Aids:

Diagrams V
Dental mixes

Dental Specialties 1: Endodontics/Periodontics

In this lesson, you'll cover endodontics and periodontics — the field of dentistry that deals with the tissues that surround the teeth.

Objectives:

Describe the types and causes of pulpitis and other endodontic conditions.
List the methods used to diagnose endodontic conditions.
Recognize the most common endodontic instruments.
Define the types of endodontic procedures.
Identify the location and significance of the tissues of the periodontium.
Specify the different forms of periodontal disease.
Describe the procedures involved in initial periodontal.
Recognize periodontal surgical instruments.
Explain the importance of maintenance and plaque control in periodontal therapy.

Dental Specialties 2: Pediatric Dentistry/Orthodontics

This lesson will introduce you to the specialties of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.

Objectives:

Define pediatric dentistry.
Describe the office and instruments used in pediatric dentistry offices.
Explain emergency procedures in the pediatric dentist’s office.
Identify the office, instruments, and procedures used in an orthodontic practice.
Outline the principles of tooth movement, banding, retainers, and other appliances.

Dental Specialties 3: Prosthodontics/Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

This lesson will introduce you to the specialties of prosthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Objectives:

List the procedures performed in a prosthodontic office.
Describe the different types of appliances used in the mouth.
Explain the procedures performed in oral surgery, the instruments used, and the importance of infection control.

Communicating in the Dental Office

In this lesson, you'll be introduced to the communication elements present in the dental office.

Objectives:

Explain what “first impression” means to the public entering your office.
Develop communication skills and problem-solving techniques.
Explain the techniques used to greet the patients.
Describe the eight levels of relating to others.
Identify eight ways to resolve conflict.
Describe how to monitor and assess dental fears.

Business Administration for the Dental Assistant

This lesson is designed to assist you in competently handling the business affairs of a dental office.

Objectives:

Describe the proper way to greet a patient in person and on the telephone.
Name the types of filing systems.
Outline different methods for recalling patients for checkups and follow-up care.
Define the terms accounts receivable and accounts payable bookkeeping.
List the five parts of a bookkeeping system.
List three guidelines for storing supplies.

Becoming a Professional

In this lesson, you'll learn about the details of obtaining a job, as well as the way you need to prepare yourself in both knowledge and appearance for maximum results.

Objectives:

Explain the key components of a uniform.
List some of the professional organizations of which you may become a member.
Write a cover letter and a résumé.
Describe the elements of a professional appearance.

Practice Management Software

In this lesson, you’ll learn how you can use the Practice-Web Dental Software program in a real work environment to help you complete your day-to-day tasks.

Objectives: