Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...
- Discuss the personality traits, characteristics, and qualifications required to be a successful dental assistant along with the elements and principles of ethical decision making and HIPAA rules that underpin all good clinical practice
- Explain the anatomy and physiology of the head, neck, and oral cavity, including parts of the teeth and types of teeth and how they’re charted in a dental office
- Discuss the goals of preventive dentistry and the relationship between nutrition and dental caries
- Identify infectious diseases, the modes of disease transmission, and their relationship to patients and occupational risks in a dental office
- Describe the best practices and procedures for preventing disease transmission in a dental office, including occupational safety and administrative protocols
- Describe the best practices and procedures for obtaining and evaluating radiographic images, including documentation, patient care, equipment, materials, and occupational safety, infection control, and administrative protocols.
- Describe the procedures used when assisting a dentist and/or dental hygienist in a dental office, including the materials, medications, and equipment used, documentation, and assisting with emergency situations, patients with special needs, and medically compromised patients
- Describe the skills, strategies, and equipment used for successful communication in a dental office
- Clean and sterilize dental instruments
- Explain the front office responsibilities of a dental assistant, including bookkeeping, record keeping, scheduling, billing, processing insurance claims, and other duties using both physical and digital methods
- Discuss the importance of professional appearance, professional development, and strategies for seeking employment and resume preparation