Dental Assisting

$40.00 lab fee. (Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. Corequisite: DEA0800L. This comprehensive course is designed to introduce the student to chair side dental assisting in preparation for the treatment of dental patients. Areas of concentration include infection control and sterilization procedures, obtaining and recording medical/dental histories and vital signs, patient management, performing and assisting with clinical examinations and charting, assisting with local anesthesia, and operative procedures utilizing manikins and/or student partners.

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. This course is designed to integrate nutrition into the diagnosis, care, and treatment of dental patients demonstrating the relationship between dental disease(s), diet, and oral health. Dietary assessment methods in relation to dental health will be emphasized.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. This course is an introduction to the role of microorganisms associated with health and disease. Microbes of concern to the dental practitioner/ auxiliary will be addressed in relation to infection control procedures and management of biohazardous waste.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. The pharmacology section of this course is designed to familiarize the student with basic concepts and considerations regarding pharmacology and pharmaceutical preparations used in dentistry. The dental office emergencies content addresses the relationship of the patient's medical history and total health status to comprehensive dental care. Emphasis is placed on the prevention of medical emergencies through a comprehensive assessment of all patients before and during dental treatment.

$73.00 lab fee. (Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. Corequisite: DEA0020C. This course introduces the student to basic clinical assisting skills as theorized in DEA0020C. Students will be required to participate and observe clinical and administrative activities in the campus dental clinic involving live patients. Concentration of study will include reception and dismissal of patients , patient management, establishing and maintaining records, obtaining and recording medical/dental histories and vital signs, charting, planning appointments, assisting with or performing various dental procedures, and utilizing practice management systems.

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Completion of DEA0020C and DEA0800L with a grade of ?C? or better. Corequisite: DEA0801L. Included in this course is a series of lectures designed to provide an overview of each dental specialty practice. Content will be related to the external student rotation sites as assigned in DEA0801L.

$40.00 lab fee. (Offered spring). Prerequisite: Completion of DEA0020C and DEA0800L with a grade of ?C? or better. Corequisite: DEA0801. Clinical experiences designed to provide the student with additional dental assisting skills is offered in this course. The student will progress to an intermediate skill level while applying knowledge of dental assisting in the campus dental clinic environment. In addition, students will be assigned rotation requirements at various external sites intended to provide familiarity with each dental specialty.

(Offered summer). Prerequisites: Completion of DEA0801 and DEA0801L with a grade of ?C? or better. Clinical Practice III is designed as an internship in a private practice of dentistry. Arrangements are made with each dentist taking part in the program to enable the student to obtain experience in all aspects of dental office procedures. Each student will be assigned to two offices for a period of three weeks in each office. The purpose of the internship is to advance the student's experience in private practice settings. Opportunities will be provided for appointment scheduling and confirmation, recall systems, telephone procedures, reception and dismissal of patients, bookkeeping, charting, records, operative procedures, care of dental equipment, and laboratory procedures.