Dental Assistant

Catalog description

This course is to familiarize the student with all areas of pre-clinical dental assisting and provide training in the professional and interpersonal skills required to function as assistant in the dental practice. This course covers foundations in dental practice including the history of dental practice and dental assisting, as well as basic concepts in oral anatomy, tooth structure, primary and permanent teeth, the oral cavity and related structures. The majority of the course will concentrate on core technical skills in dental assisting including equipment use and function, proper patient positioning, dental hand-pieces, and sterilization and patient safety. Students will also prepare for roles in dental office administration with instruction in legal and regulatory aspects of dentistry, as well as basic practices in insurance billing and coding, taking and keeping dental records, ensuring patient privacy, and customer service skills. Students must receive a grade of C or better to receive the HCC Certificate of Completion.