Certified Dental Assistant

A Dental Assistant assists with oral surgery, preparing tools and sterilizing equipment, and often helps record observations and results of the surgery. Dental assistants are in extremely high demand, and their profession is growing at a rate of 19% per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2017 median income for Dental Assistants was $37,630.

What’s in this program? This program will give you standards to follow and a familiarity with the tools and procedures in a dental office. This Dental Assistant program covers the history of dentistry, legal aspects of dentistry, oral anatomy, dental operatory, and dental equipment. In this program, you will be introduced to tooth structure including primary and permanent teeth.
Included Certifications! Included in the program tuition is the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Certification exam and Infection Control Exam (ICE) Certification exam. In many states the DANB-RHS Certification is required to work in dental radiography. Program also includes an optional clinical externship at a local healthcare provider!

Summary: With just 6 months of study, you can be ready for a job as a dental assistant. The demand for dental assistants is growing faster than most other professions.
NOTE: Some states have their own regulations about dental assistants. Some states require additional training to work in dental radiograph. Prior to enrollment check with your admissions advisor to confirm your state’s requirements or check your state’s requirements at the below link:
http://www.dalefoundation.org/Resources-And-State-Requirements/State-Dental-Assistant-Requirements

The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing healthcare professions – Dental Assisting. With the national increase in healthcare-related services, and the national shortage of healthcare professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the healthcare technician field. To meet our nation’s growing medical demands, recent studies indicate that over 400,000 assistants will be employed by 2018.

The Dental Assisting Program, offered by our accredited school partners, prepares students for entry-level positions as a chair-side dental assistant. This course covers the history of dentistry, introduction to the dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, introduction to oral anatomy, dental operatory, introduction to tooth structure (primary and permanent teeth), the oral cavity; and other areas. Program also includes an optional clinical externship at a local healthcare provider!

The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting focusing on the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. This course covers the following key areas and topics:
• Introduction to the dental office and history of dentistry and dental assisting
• Legal aspects of dentistry including policies and guidelines
• Introductory oral anatomy, dental operatory, and dental equipment
• Introductory tooth structure including primary and permanent teeth
• The oral cavity and related structures
• Dental hand-pieces, sterilization, and other areas

Dental Assisting Detailed Course Information:
• The dental assisting profession and the history of Dental anatomy and physiology
• Tooth charting, tooth surfaces, and classification of restorations on a tooth
• Parts of the jaw and areas of the mouth
• Oral health and preventions of dental disease
• Infection control in dentistry and occupational health and safety
• Patient information and assessment
• Foundation of clinical dentistry
• Dental radiology
• Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture, and full denture
• Dental equipment, accessories and the treatment room
• Dental hand pieces and accessories
• Dental cements and impression materials
• Coding of radiology services and the use of ICD-9-CM codes
• Assisting in comprehensive dental care
• Dental administration and communication skills

Enroll through one of our accredited university or college partners today!

Dental assistants balance a variety of high priority responsibilities that benefit the patient, the dentist, other members of the team and the practice itself.

Module 1: Healthcare Fundamentals
• Healthcare Fundamentals, The History
• Healthcare Etiquette
• Professional Situations and Applications
Module 2: Communication in Healthcare
• Healthcare Teams
• Team Success
• Champions
Module 3: Medical Documentation and Record-Keeping: HIPAA
• Use and Disclosure
• Real Life Scenarios
• Laws, Policies, and Requirements
Module 4: OSHA Infection Control Compliance
• Introduction to Infection Control
• Personal Protection
• Protection of the Office Environment
• Instruments, Specialized Equipment & Laboratory Specimens
• Infectious Patients & Healthcare Workers
• Waste Management Plan
• Chemical Disinfection
• Heat Sterilization
• Exposure Control
• General Safety Standards
• Employee Training
• OSHA'S Required Records
Module 5: Medical Terminology
• Word Structure
• Organization of the Body
• Diagnostic Testing and Radiology
Module 6: Anatomy and Physiology
• Anatomy and Physiology Basics
• Musculoskeletal System
• Integumentary System
• Digestive System
• Urinary System
Module 7: Infection Prevention and Safety
• Microbiology
• Disease Transmission and Infection Prevention
• Principles and Techniques of Disinfection
• Principles and Techniques of Instrument Processing and Sterilization
• Regulatory and Advisory Agencies
• Chemical and Waste Management
• Dental Unit Waterlines
• Ergonomics
Module 8: Radiographic Imaging
• Foundations of Radiology, Radiographic Equipment, and Radiation Safety
• Digital Imaging, Dental Film, and Processing Radiographs
• Legal Issues, Quality Assurance, and Infection Prevention
• Intraoral Imaging
• Extraoral Imaging
Module 9: Dental Professional and Sciences
• History of Dentistry
• The Professional Dental Assistant
• The Dental Healthcare Team
• Dental Ethics
• Dentistry and the Law
• General Anatomy
• General Physiology
• Oral Embryology and Histology
• Head and Neck Anatomy
• Landmarks of the Face and Oral Cavity
• Dentitions
• Tooth Morphology
Module 10: Patient Information and Administration
• Patient Dental Record
• Vital Signs
• Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
• Special Patients
• Pharmacology
• Medical Emergency
• Communication
• Operating Systems
• Financial Management
Module 11: Clinical Dentistry and Assisting
• Dental Caries
• Periodontal Diseases
• Preventative Dentistry
• Nutrition
• Oral Pathology
• Dental Care
• Dental Hand Instruments
• Dental Handpieces and Accessories
• Moisture Control
• Anesthesia and Pain Control
• Dental Materials
• Comprehensive Dental Care

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements:

Internet Connection
• Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)
Hardware Requirements
• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

Software Requirements
• Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Adobe PDF Reader

DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification consists of three component exams:
General Chairside Assisting (GC)
Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)
Infection Control (ICE)

These exams are included in your program tuition.

Requirements for Certification:
1. High school graduation or equivalent, AND
2. Minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience, AND
3. Current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.

Those who do not meet the above requirements can pursue a National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification. The NELDA certification consists of three component exams:

Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP)
Infection Control (ICE)
Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)

This course provides students with qualified support professionals to guide them through their learning experience. The student support team is available to answer any questions a learner may have including questions on course content, course material, certifications, and registration or enrollment questions. Support advisers also monitor the progress of learners to ensure training retention and program advancement.