Course Outline

Orientation to Dentistry, Dental Anatomy and Charting, Patient Exam and the Dental Patient
This unit will provide students with information concerning the roles of dentists, registered dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians. Information is also given on the major areas of the dental office and most important pieces of equipment will be explored. Students will learn how to identify primary and permanent teeth, as well as surfaces, parts of teeth and tissue.

Transfer and Moisture Control, Disinfection, Treatment Room Care
Students will learn how to wipe down a treatment room, perform mouth rinses, place and remove cotton rolls, and instrument transfer.

Radiography Safety and Techniques
In this unit, student will be introduced to techniques of safely taking x-rays and developing them. Students will practice these techniques during the remainder of the semester.

Cements, Restorative Instruments, Impressions
Students will learn to identify major hand instruments, burs and handpieces, and learn instrumentation for different dental procedures. Cements and their manipulation will be introduced.

Restorative
Amalgam and composite fillings will be explored, as well as temporary crown and filling restoration.

Dental Specialties
Students will learn how to assist during oral surgery, root canals, scaling and root planing and the insertion of dentures. Students will also learn how to remove sutures.

Bleaching Techniques and Impressions
In this unit, diagnostic materials will be explored. This will include custom impression trays, and alginate impressions and pouring up and trimming casts. Also in this unit, students will learn how to make a custom night-guard and bleaching tray.

Externship
8 hours of observation and some practice in a dental office with real patients comprises this portion of the training.

Entrance Requirements
Each applicant will be considered based on 1) his or her of ability to benefit from the program, and 2) character recommendations by personal and professional references. A high school diploma or its equivalent is required. NSDA-Stockton does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, nationality, or religion. Must be able to perform the job of dental assisting. Due to the "fast track" nature of the program, late enrollment is not permitted.

Program
Each semester is 12 weeks in length, plus a one day, 8-hour externship in a working dental office, for a total of 152 hours. The 12-week session will consist of 144 hours of class time. Additional take-home projects will be assigned. After completing the class hours and the externship, students will receive a Certificate of Completion in Basic Dental Assisting.

Classroom Location:
580 C Street
Galt, CA 95362