This course will provide students with the knowledge and understanding of ethics and law in dentistry and the dental assisting profession. Communication classes will also provide the student with the instruction and practical experience to be able to implement their skills in and outside of the dental office, facilitating the communication process with the public, clients and co-workers. 

Communication component is continued with a focus on verbal and written skills as they relate to career readiness: interview skills, résumé and portfolio preparation, internet and job bank navigation, and HR practices.  This course will include classroom theory, group discussions and role play exercise

This course will provide students with the knowledge and understanding of ethics and law in dentistry and the dental assistant profession. Communication classes will also provide the student with the instruction and practical experience to be able to implement their skills in and outside of the dental office, facilitating the communication process with the public, clients and co-workers.

Communication component is continued with a focus on verbal and written skills as they relate to career readiness: interview skills, résumé and portfolio preparation, internet and job bank navigation, and HR practices.  This course will include classroom theory, group discussions and role play exercise

This course will educate the students in dental health, allowing them to recognize, explain, and demonstrate proper oral hygiene techniques to their clients. The students will learn Dental Assistant related theory that will allow them to develop skills required to perform preventative dental assistant tasks. This course also covers basic nutrition theory that will allow the student to be able to discuss the relationship between diet and good dental health with their clients.

Community dental health projects allow the student to form a lesson plan and the delivery of it to a school population. As well, there is inter-professional collaboration with dental hygiene students in long-term care facilities with residents and care providers which allows for further experience and enhanced learning in the community.

This course is a theory-based course focusing on the anatomy and physiology of the human body, from cell formation and inclusive of all body systems, their functions and common disorders. Student learning is enhanced by group activities, use of interactive visual aids, and case studies. Student presentations provide an opportunity for in-depth research on specific conditions that are common to clients.

This course will provide an understanding of medical emergencies including prevention, signs and symptoms, vital signs and the appropriate responses to medical emergencies in a dental office.

This is accomplished through two evaluations on vital signs and contents of the Medical Emergency Kit and First Aid Kit as well as theory-based student learning. Various case study activities, assignments and testing assist in the assessments of student decision-making skills.

Pharmacology is the second half of the course and is theory based, using learning activities to facilitate students in understanding the use of prescription drugs and local anesthetics for dental treatment. The course will include theory and practical assessments.

This radiography theory course introduces students to the history, development, and use of radiation in the diagnosis of dental disease. The principles of proper exposure, processing, handling, and storage of dental diagnostic radiographs are covered. Radiation safety required to protect client and operator from hazardous exposure levels is emphasized.
Students will assess images/radiographs for diagnostic ability. Students learn the guidelines and legal implications of prescribing radiographic exposures for clients. The utilization of images/ radiographs within the various aspects of dental care will be introduced to prepare students for client care.

This course will educate the dental assistant student on the delivery of dental care, procedures, instruments, materials and supplies that are used during dental restorative procedures. Student learning is enhanced through case study activities, role play, critical thinking through case study activities and demonstrates decision-making skills through case exercises and assignments.  The student will learn the knowledge to apply skills in clinic setting.

This course will educate the students in the terminology related to the development and structures of the face and specifically the oral cavity. Obtaining and documenting proper information for a client chart will be discussed. Students will gain a detailed understanding of the different types of teeth, eruption cycle, their functions and surfaces. Students will study the importance of occlusion/malocclusion, Black’s classification of cavities and numbering systems.  Practical application will be seen in the classroom and in the clinic.

In this course, students will gain a better understanding of modern-day dentistry by reviewing the history of dentistry. This course will provide the student with a preclinical foundation of knowledge in safety, disinfection, sterilization, and basic delivery of dental care. Students will gain a thorough understanding of all that is involved in maintaining a chain of asepsis. This will be discussed in class and practical application in clinic.

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a clinical setting. Skills are developed through clinical simulations, peer and client experiences. Students will demonstrate a variety of dental assisting skills used in four-handed dentistry, optimal infection prevention and control, as well as level II Dental Assistant duties such as rubber dam placement and taking preliminary impressions. Emphasis is placed on clinician and client safety in the clinical setting.

This course will provide the student with the theory to succeed in the laboratory skills that are most commonly performed in a dental office.  Student learning is enhanced through case study activities, videos, group work and decision-making skills through case exercises and assignments.

This course will provide the dental assistant student with the knowledge necessary to implement administration skills in a dental office setting.  It is a theory-based course which is enhanced through learning activities including practical and written exercises.

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a clinical setting. Skills are developed through clinical simulations, peer and client experiences. Students will demonstrate a variety of dental assisting skills used in four-handed dentistry, optimal infection prevention and control, as well as level II DA duties such as coronal polishing and sealant placement. Emphasis is placed on clinician and client safety in the clinical setting.

This course is a theory-based course integrating anatomy and physiology of the head and neck region, providing detailed knowledge of the bones, muscles, nerves and blood supply.  Student learning is enhanced with hands on activities to help identify structures, relationships, and functions. 
Normal anatomy is then further evaluated in the pathology component of the course as we assess and distinguish diseases of the head and neck. The diagnostic process is examined and integrated in identification of common conditions.  Collaboration on case studies as well as visual identification are an integral part of the pathology component.

This course will provide students with the practical application of skills to safely expose digital images and process radiographs in the dental office. This includes demonstrations of processing and quality control. Digital radiography will be discussed and performed.

This laboratory course is a continuation of Radiography Theory 105 and allows students to refine digital radiography exposure techniques for standard periapical, and additional bite-wing intraoral views using manikins. Students will be required to expose a full mouth series using the paralleling technique and will also simulate panoramic radiography.      

During laboratory exercises, emphasis is placed on self-evaluation of proficiency. Students will be required to critique the radiographs they produce for diagnostic quality, identify deficiencies and indicate how results could be improved. Laboratory activities include clinical simulation with classmates, sensor placement, exposures on manikins and mounting.

This course is intended to provide a basic level of knowledge of various dental specialties, such as: Prosthodontics, Implantology, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatrics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Periodontics. Outlining each specialty, its main  purpose and  demonstrating  the specific  procedures within  it will help  the  student  to  understand  its  importance  in the  field  of  dentistry.  The course will be enhanced by guest lecturers for the specialties and a comprehensive project will be handed in to the instructor. 

This course will provide the student with the knowledge necessary to record and maintain dental records. This course is primarily a theory-based student learning course which is enhanced through learning activities and written exercises. Guidelines for recording services rendered restorative and periodontal dental charting will be taught in a classroom setting. The course consists of written and practical assessments, group work, videos, and audio charting exercises. 

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a clinical setting. Skills are developed through clinical simulations, peer and client experiences. Students will demonstrate a variety of dental assisting skills used in four-handed dentistry, optimal infection prevention and control, as well as level II Dental Assistant duties such as rubber dam placement and taking preliminary impressions. Emphasis is placed on clinician and client safety in the clinical setting.

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a clinical setting. Skills are developed through clinical simulations, peer and client experiences. Students will demonstrate a variety of dental assisting skills used in four-handed dentistry, optimal infection prevention and control, as well as level II Dental Assistant duties such as rubber dam placement and taking preliminary impressions. Emphasis is placed on clinician and client safety in the clinical setting.

This course will provide the student with clinical practice to succeed in laboratory skills that are most performed in a dental office.  This course is the practical application based upon the basic theory from DEN 110. Guidelines and demonstrations will be performed to help assist the student in fabricating and presenting bleaching trays, mouth guards, custom trays, and study casts.

Client care clinic is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to combine didactic and practical knowledge, acquired throughout the year, performing client care skills including assessment and individualized care planning, oral hygiene instruction, selective polish, prescribed radiographs, dietary counseling and fluoride treatments within a supervised clinical setting.

The student will be placed in a private practice dental office for on-the-job training during second term to complete a chair observation. Upon completion of preclinical, clinical, and client care competencies, the student will then participate in a chair side and level II practicum.  The first practicum is a one-week session of observation only, and the second practicum is for a four-week period using a 30-day license. To graduate from the Dental Assistant Program, you must complete both practicum sessions.