The student will be able to:

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Explain methods by which microorganisms are transmitted, replicate, and produce disease symptoms in susceptible hosts.
2. Describe the significant diseases along with their associated signs, symptoms, and oral manifestations.
3. Analyze the impact of diet and nutritional deficiencies on oral health, including their role in oral diseases, the caries process, and deficiency-related conditions.
4. Describe the uses, actions, and possible adverse reactions of the following commonly prescribed drugs in dentistry: antibiotics, analgesics, antifungal, antiviral, and anxiolytics.
5. Identify and describe nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia equipment, including safety features.
6. Describe the physiological responses induced by nitrous oxide-oxygen administration.
7. Describe the role of the dental assistant in administering nitrous oxide safely, including educating the patient.
8. Describe the process for monitoring and supporting a patient receiving nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation.

Dental Assisting Program Competencies

1. Demonstrate competency in applying dental assisting practices for patient-centered care to individuals across the lifespan.
2. Demonstrate the application of the principles of infection control and hazardous waste management to ensure a safe environment for patients and dental health care workers.
3. Demonstrate the application of ethical and legal principles to support safe and equitable oral health care in the dental setting.

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Demonstrate proper handling of nitrous oxide-oxygen equipment to prevent contamination and cross-contamination.

Ethical and Legal Principles

1. Summarize the ethical and legal considerations of prescribing and administering drugs within a dental setting.
2. Discuss the ethical responsibility of a dental assistant in identifying and addressing potential nutritional deficiencies in patients, particularly minors.
3. Discuss the ethical and legal implications of using nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia in patient care.

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice

1. Infectious diseases and prevention
   1. Review of causative organisms of infectious diseases
      1. Viruses
      2. Bacteria
      3. Fungi
      4. Prions
   2. Chain of infection
      1. Virulence
      2. Number of microorganisms
      3. Susceptible host
      4. Portal of entry
   3. Types of infections
      1. Acute infection
      2. Chronic infection
      3. Latent infection
      4. Opportunistic infection
   4. Methods of disease transmission
      1. Direct transmission
      2. Indirect transmission
      3. Splash or spatter
      4. Airborne transmission
      5. Parenteral transmission
      6. Bloodborne transmission
      7. Food and water transmission
      8. Fecal-oral transmission
   5. Immunology
      1. Types of immunity
2. Oral pathology
   1. Systemic diseases and oral symptoms
      1. Hepatitis
      2. HIV
      3. Herpes simplex/herpes zoster
      4. Human papillomavirus
      5. Diabetes
   2. Oral conditions and manifestations
      1. Meth mouth
      2. Eating disorders
3. Nutrition and oral health
   1. Metabolism and nutrition
   2. Digestive process and food absorption
   3. Role of essential nutrients and food sources
      1. Fats
      2. Carbohydrates
      3. Protein
      4. Minerals
      5. Vitamins
   4. Nutrient deficiency diseases
      1. Bulimia
      2. Anorexia nervosa
      3. Scurvy
   5. Nutritional counseling strategies and ethical responsibilities
4. Pharmacology and dental care
   1. Drug categories
      1. Antibiotics
      2. Analgesics
      3. Antifungals
      4. Antivirals
      5. Antianxiety
   2. Over the counter vs. prescribed medications
   3. Controlled substances
   4. Prescription dispensing requirements
5. Nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia
   1. Equipment
      1. Portable equipment
      2. Wall unit
      3. Types of tanks
      4. Scavenger systems
      5. Masks
   2. Nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia physiologic responses
      1. Stage and planes
   3. Indications
   4. Contraindications
   5. Signs
      1. Patient response
   6. Administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia
      1. Equipment set-up
      2. Patient preparation
      3. Administration procedure
   7. Flow of gases
      1. Patient titration
   8. Patient monitoring
      1. Pre- and post-administration of oxygen
      2. Patient recovery from nitrous administration
      3. Signs of recovery
      4. Return of blood gasses to normal

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

1. Nitrous oxide oxygen administration
   1. Decontamination of equipment
   2. Handling of nasal mask
2. Preventing cross contamination of equipment
3. Scavenging systems
4. Environmental monitoring devices

Ethical and Legal Principles

1. Prescribing and administering drugs
   1. Dental assistants' responsibilities
   2. Drug dispensing requirements in dental settings
2. Recognition of nutritional deficiencies
   1. Minor patients
3. Utilization and administration of nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia
   1. Supervision level
   2. Misuse and complications from improper administration
   3. Professional conduct during administration

Not applicable.

Quizzes (8)
Midterm (1)
Final (1)
Microorganism report and presentation
Online continuing education courses (3)

Lecture
Discussion
Demonstration
Cooperative learning exercises

Bird, D.L., and D.S. Robinson. Modern Dental Assisting, 14th ed.. 2023.

1. Weekly reading assignments.
2. Online continuing education courses.
3. Microorganism report and presentation.
4. Completion of worksheet assignments.