The student will be able to:

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Create and manage electronic dental records using dental practice management software.
2. Present a proposed treatment plan to a patient in a simulated scenario.
3. Analyze an accounts receivable aging report and draft a collection letter.
4. Create an inventory log and demonstrate procedures for tracking and reordering dental supplies.
5. Demonstrate effective job interview techniques through mock interviews.
6. Complete a professional employment portfolio that includes a resume, cover letter, and completed job application.
7. Describe basic payroll procedures and interpret common salary deductions on a paystub.
8. Describe internal and external marketing strategies for a dental practice.
9. Explain the accounts payable process in the dental office setting.

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Demonstrate appropriate infection control procedures in the business office environment.

Ethical and Legal Principles

1. Describe key HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations and demonstrate proper handling of electronic documentation to maintain patient confidentiality.

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Electronic dental records and documentation
   1. Practice management software overview
   2. Creating electronic patient records
   3. Dental charting, including periodontal, restorative, and other relevant findings
   4. Preparing electronic documents
   5. Confidentiality of computer records on office systems
   6. Electronic submissions of dental insurance claims
2. Treatment planning and patient communication
   1. Components of a treatment plan
      1. Identifying patient chief complaint and clinical findings
      2. Establishing diagnosis and prioritizing treatment needs
      3. Sequencing treatment phases (preventive, restorative, maintenance)
      4. Presenting options including benefits, risks, and alternatives
      5. Coordinating with insurance and financial policies
      6. Documenting informed consent
   2. Communication strategies for presenting treatment
      1. Patient health literacy level
      2. Visual aids (e.g., intraoral photos, diagrams, software) and written communication
      3. Strategies for checking patient understanding
   3. Simulated role-play: presenting treatment plans
   4. Non-verbal communication
      1. Body language, posture, and facial expressions
      2. Eye contact and professional presence
      3. Gestures, tone of voice, and vocal cues
      4. Cultural considerations in non-verbal behavior
      5. Indicators of attentiveness and empathy
      6. Non-verbal cues during difficult conversations
3. Accounts receivable and financial arrangements
   1. Payment plans
   2. CareCredit
   3. Truth in Lending documents
   4. Accounts receivable aging reports
   5. Collection letter writing
   6. Referring accounts to collection agencies
4. Inventory management
   1. Expendable supplies
   2. Non-expendable supplies
   3. Capital supplies
   4. Back orders
   5. Credit memos
   6. Packaging slips
   7. Invoices
5. Job interview skills
   1. 30-second commercial
   2. Common interview questions
   3. Interview etiquette and professionalism
   4. Job interview follow-up letters
6. Employment portfolio development
   1. Resume writing
   2. Cover letters
   3. Job applications
   4. Negotiating benefits and salary
7. Payroll and salary deductions
   1. Gross pay vs. net pay
   2. Common deductions
   3. Payroll taxes
   4. W-4 and W-2 tax forms
   5. Reading a sample paycheck
8. Marketing in the dental practice
   1. Internal marketing techniques
      1. Patient referral programs
      2. In-office promotions
      3. Newsletters, appointment reminders, and recall systems
      4. Patient experience and customer service strategies
      5. Online reviews and patient testimonials
   2. External marketing techniques
      1. Website development and search engine optimization (SEO)
      2. Social media engagement (Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
      3. Community involvement and sponsorships (e.g., health fairs, school events)
      4. Print and digital advertisements
      5. Targeted outreach to new residents or local employers
   3. Patient communication strategies
      1. Rapport building and trust in treatment discussions
      2. Active listening and empathetic communication
      3. Plain language and clear explanation
9. Accounts payable procedures
   1. Petty cash procedures
   2. Managing invoices and statements

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Infection control in the business office
   1. Cross-contamination risks in administrative areas
   2. Regulatory agency guidelines
   3. Legal and ethical principles in business practices
   4. Ergonomics in the business office
   5. Activity zones and office design for efficient workflow and safety

Ethical and Legal Principles

1. HIPAA and confidentiality compliance
   1. Overview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
   2. Patient privacy and confidentiality
   3. Handling and storage of digital patient records
2. Dental insurance processing
   1. Insurance plans
   2. Coverage categories: diagnostic/preventive, basic, major
   3. Deductibles, maximums, waiting periods
   4. Preparing and submitting insurance forms
   5. Obtaining patient insurance information
   6. Manual and electronic claim processing
   7. Claim follow-up procedures

1. Setting up a dental practice in computerized dental software
   1. Provider setup: doctor and hygienist
   2. Fee schedule entry
   3. Patient registration and medical history input
   4. Adding dependents to existing patient records
   5. Referral information and patient notes
   6. Generating referral reports
   7. Treatment plan entry
      1. Existing conditions and restorations
      2. Treatment planning for permanent and primary teeth
      3. Printing treatment plans
      4. Presenting treatment plans
2. Periodontal charting using computerized dental software
   1. Probing depths
   2. Gingival recession
   3. Furcation involvement
   4. Tooth mobility
   5. Bleeding points
3. Appointment management in computerized dental software
   1. Provider color coding
   2. Scheduling patient appointments
   3. Appointment book views
   4. Rescheduling and moving appointments
   5. Dovetailing appointments
   6. Buffer time setup
   7. Time unit configuration
   8. Matrix setup
4. Financial transactions in computerized dental software
   1. Posting charges, payments, and adjustments to patient ledgers
   2. Debit and credit adjustments
   3. Insurance codes and procedure descriptions
   4. Managing previous and ending balances
   5. Printing day sheets (chronological and alphabetical)
   6. Printing deposit slips
   7. Generating patient statements
   8. Preparing dental insurance forms

Quizzes
Final examination
Assignments
Computer projects

Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Oral presentations
Laboratory
Demonstration
Work individually on computers

Robinson, D.S.. Modern Dental Assisting, 14th ed.. 2024.

1. Read two chapters in the textbook and course manual.
2. Read three chapters in reference texts on dental business procedures.
3. Learn how to prepare and write a cover letter and resume and learn skills to prepare for job search and interviewing.
4. Prepare a practice/mock purchasing and inventory control system.