Clinical Dental Assistant Course

Becoming a dental assistant is a fulfilling and rewarding career path with flexible hours and strong job growth predicted. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7% through 2032, faster than the average for all occupations, with a median annual wage of $46,540. Obtaining your dental assistant certification is your first step towards providing comfort and education for patients — and our self-paced Clinical Dental Assistant course will prepare you to become a productive and successful member of a dental team.

This comprehensive and in-demand self-paced, online clinical dental assistant program helps equip you for career success. You will learn essential aspects of professional dental assisting, including invaluable real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants and essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more. You will also explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software.

After completing this dental assistant certification training, you will have the opportunity to apply for a clinical experience, through which you will get real-life clinical assistant experience. You will also be ready to pursue certification as a clinical dental assistant, including the radiology, infection control, and anatomy and physiology portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations — NELDA or CDA. Once you have gained clinical experience and in-person hours, you will be prepared for the general assisting exam and achieve your dental assistant certification.

What you will learn

• Describe the roles for each member of the dental team and twelve dental specialties
• Define the legal and ethical practice of dental assisting, including HIPAA
• Explain deciduous and permanent dentition along with their functions in dental anatomy and pathology
• Describe the chain of infection, transmission routes, and infection control for the dental practice, along with OSHA regulations
• Summarize the role of the dental assistant in pharmacology, nutrition, and interaction with a variety of patients in normal daily activities and emergency situations
• Describe the use, care, and preparation of dental instruments for patient care
  Outline the necessary components of a patient record prior to dental charting
• Use charting techniques to identify dental restorations and disease to create a treatment plan to prevent future disease progression
• Set up equipment for anesthesia and sedation
• Describe patient clinical methods and techniques to prevent dental disease
• Identify the process of exposing high-quality radiographs in both traditional and digital formats
• Describe dental materials, their uses in dental treatment, and skills needed to use them efficiently
• Define the dental assistant's role in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry
• Explain the communication and business needs to maintain a dental business office
• State transferable hard and soft skills in order to complete a résumé for a dental assistant position

How you will benefit

• Real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants
• Essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care, and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more
• Explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software
• Obtain your clinical dental assistant certification through the Dental Assisting National Board

1. The Dental Profession
2. Communication Skills
3. Ethics for the Dental Assistant
4. Basic Dental Sciences
5. Dental Anatomy
6. Oral Pathology
7. Infection Control
8. Hazardous Materials
9. Caring for Exceptional Patients
10. Pharmacology for the Dental Assistant
11. Emergency Management
12. Oral Health and Nutrition
13. The Dental Office
14. Dental Instruments
15. Introduction to Chairside Assisting
16. New Patients and Charting
17. Introduction to Dentrix Learning Software (Optional)
18. Anesthesia and Sedation
19. Preventative Care
20. Radiation Health Safety
21. Extraoral and Digital Radiology
22. Dental Emergency Procedures and Amalgam Restorations
23. Composite Procedures and Laboratory Materials
24. Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
25. Dental Specialties
26. Dental Implants and Fixed Prosthetics
27. Computerized Restorative Systems and Removable Prosthodontics
28. Cosmetic Dentistry
29. Dental Practice Management
30. Your Dental Career
    

There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams.

Upon successful completion of this clinical dental assistant course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations. The exams meet three of three exam requirements for the NELDA certification and two of three exam requirements for the CDA. If you already have 3,500 hours of clinical experience and wish to pursue the CDA certification, you will need to acquire the General Chairside Assisting exam. The General Chairside Assisting exam is not included in this voucher package. Included vouchers are prepaid access to sit for the exams upon eligibility.

Students are supported by both an assigned instructor and assigned advisor throughout the duration of the course. Students receive contact information for both upon enrollment and all communication is handled via email. Students should allow up to two business days for responses.

Hardware Requirements

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• The optional Dentrix software requires a PC and cannot be used on a Chromebook or Mac.

Software Requirements

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Optional Dentrix Software Requirements*

• Operating System Windows* 7 Sp1, 8.1, 10
• Memory 8 GB RAM
• CPU 4 cores at 2.4 GHz
• Local Drive Install Space 40 GB total, 5 GB on C: drive
• Monitor 1280x1024

*Students are not required to download the software to complete the course requirements and can follow along with the video tutorials.