Dental Support

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. This course introduces the student to the foundations of dental practice management including effective interoffice and patient communication. Financial planning, inventory control, practice management software systems, patient scheduling/record organization and HIPAA compliance are of primary focus. The legal and ethical aspects of dental practice will be examined in accordance with the State Dental Practice Act. Employment planning and professional career opportunities will be addressed.

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. This course introduces the student to the philosophy and principles of dental health education. Current disease prevention utilizing proper techniques and consumer products for biofilm control will be emphasized. The student will gain practical experience by developing and providing dental health presentations during National Dental Health Month.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene Program. This course provides an in-depth study of the morphology and function of primary and permanent teeth, including all of the structures involved in the mechanism of mastication, primary and permanent tooth eruption, schedules and anatomical forms, function of primary and permanent dentition, vocabulary used to describe teeth and other structures in the oral cavity, and the principles of occlusion.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene Program. This course includes a detailed study of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and nervous systems of the head and neck. Special emphasis is placed on structures associated with the oral cavity. Teeth are studied in relationship to the structures that support them.

$215.00 lab fee. (Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene Program. This course examines the properties, manipulation, and care of materials used in the prevention and treatment of oral disease. Students will gain clinical practice manipulating the physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological characteristics of materials in relation to the oral environment.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisite: DES1200L. This course provides theoretical knowledge to include the history, development, properties, uses and physical behavior of x-radiation, radiation hygiene, biological effects of radiation, and patient/operator safety regulations. Fundamental knowledge in relation to exposing, processing and mounting intraoral radiographic images, identification of normal radiographic anatomical landmarks, and computer imaging technology in dental radiography is included.

$189.00 lab fee. (Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisite: DES1200. Concurrent with DES1200, students gain practical experience with radiographic procedures, darkroom procedures, film storage, and the hazards and precautions involved in dental radiography. Students will be permitted to expose traditional and digital intraoral images in order to achieve competency in producing diagnostic quality images.

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Completion of DEH1002, DEH1002L or DEA0020C, DEA0800L, DES1320, DEA0134, DEA0133 and DES1100C, DES1200, DES1200L, DES1010, DES1000 with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: DES1201L. A continuation of DES1200, this course focuses on identification and interpretation of normal and abnormal dental pathology, accessory techniques and tomographic imaging systems.

$61.00 lab fee. (Offered spring). Prerequisite: Completion of DEH1002, DEH1002L or DEA0020C, DEA0800L, DES1320, DEA0134, DEA0133 and DES1100C, DES1200, DES1200L, DES1010, DES1000 with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: DES1201. Concurrent with DES1201, this course permits students to continue practice exposing traditional and digital intraoral and extraoral images on manikins and patients in order to refine dental radiographic technique and interpretation skills.

(Offered fall). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. This course emphasizes effective oral and written communication skills with patients as well as co-workers and the importance of interpersonal relations in the dental office. Designed to stimulate group discussions and individual growth, professionalism and ethics as related to dental assisting.

(Offered spring). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting Program. A study of the development of the human body along with a survey of the structure, growth, and function of the body organ system is included in this course.

(Offered spring). Prerequisites: Completion of DEH1002, DEH1002L or DEA0020C, DEA0800L, DES1320, DEA0134, DEA0133 and DES1100C, DES1200, DES1200L, DES1010, DES1000 with a grade of ?C? or better or possess a current CDA or RDH credential or demonstrate employment in a dental practice for two consecutive years (provide a letter of verification from employer). Enrollment based on availability; priority granted to currently enrolled DA/DH program students. Corequisite: DES1832L. This course is designed to provide didactic instruction regarding the expanded functions legally allowable in the State of Florida. Upon successful completion of DES1832L and DES1832 (grade of "C" or better), students are issued a certificate listing the expanded functions that are accomplished at an acceptable level.

$26.00 lab fee. (Offered spring). Prerequisites: Completion of DEH1002, DEH1002L or DEA0020C, DEA0800L, DES1320, DEA0134, DEA0133 and DES1100C, DES1200, DES1200L, DES1010, DES1000 with a grade of ?C? or better or possess a current CDA or RDH credential or demonstrate employment in a dental practice for two consecutive years (provide a letter of verification from employer). Enrollment based on availability; priority granted to currently enrolled DA/DH program students. Corequisite: DES1832. This advanced clinical course requires a high level of clinical experience, hands-on dexterity, knowledge of intraoral anatomy, knowledge of equipment and handpieces, and the ability to work independently and make sound clinical decisions. Expanded functions that are legally allowable in the State of Florida will be demonstrated in an established sequence of tasks. Students will be given opportunities to practice on manikins and live patients in order to develop an acceptable skill level that will increase clinical competency and proficiency in each task. Upon successful completion of DES1832L and DES1832 (grade of "C" or better), students are issued a certificate listing the expanded functions that are accomplished at an acceptable level.