D A 74: DENTAL ASSISTING CLINICAL PRACTICE
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Units: | 5.5 |
| Hours: | 17 laboratory per week (204 total per quarter) This is a clinical laboratory course. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade Only |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of Winter quarter the student will have assisted at chairside at a private general or specialty dental practice at least 80 hours.
- The student will create a final portfolio which demonstrates their competency in the three dental assisting competencies.
Description
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
A. Dental Assisting Theory & Practice
1. perform routine chairside and or specialty dental assisting procedures.
2. observe or obtain radiographs.
3. work cooperatively with dental faculty and staff.
4. accept constructive criticism as a goal for better performance.
B. Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management
1. perform adequate infection control to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
2. dispose of hazardous wastes in appropriate containers.
C. Ethical and Legal Principles
1. behave in a professional manner in a clinical environment.
2. assist in the documentation of patient assessment and treatment.
3. perform legal duties allowed for DAs or RDAs as directed.
Course Content
A. Dental Assisting Theory & Practice
1. Chairside dental assisting procedures
a. Four handed instrument transfer
b. Oral evacuation
c. Placement and removal of rubber dam
d. Set-up matrix band and wedge(s)
e. Place topical anesthetic agent
f. Mix impression materials, cements, liners, bases, and amalgam
g. Assisting with restorative, preventive and surgical procedures
h. Obtaining alginate impressions and pouring study models
i. Pre- and post-operative instructions
j. Dental specialty procedures and other dental related areas
1) Orthodontics
2) Periodontics
3) Oral surgery
4) Prosthodontics
5) Endodontics
6) Radiology
7) Emergency
2. Radiographs
a. Full-mouth surveys
b. Bite-wing surveys
c. Panoramic surveys
3. Cooperation and teamwork
a. Clinical supervisor
b. Dentist
c. Dental staff
B. Infection Control
1. Adequate infection control
a. PPE
b. Personal hygiene
c. Set-up and breakdown
d. Instrument decontamination and sterilization
2. Hazardous waste management
a. Sharps containers
b. Hazardous waste containers
c. Biological waste containers
C. Ethical and Legal Principles
1. Professionalism
a. Student interaction
b. Seminar discussions
2. Documentation
a. Medical/dental history review
b. Extraoral/intraoral exam
c. Periodontal exam
d. Restorative exam
e. Patient referrals
3. Legal duties
1. Dental Practice Act
a. Role play
b. Seminar discussion
Lab Content
A. Internship in private practice general and specialty dental offices.
B. Practicing chairside/back office and front office duties.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
Method(s) of Evaluation
A. Routine performance evaluations.
B. Daily and/or weekly supervisor evaluation forms with specific criteria for performance evaluations.
Method(s) of Instruction
A. Lecture
B. Discussion
C. Field work
D. Demonstration
E. Internship/preceptorship
F. Community service
G. Field trips
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Bird, D.L., and D.S. Robinson. Modern Dental Assisting. 12th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, 2018.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
A. Chapter readings from textbook.
B. Must practice documentation of treatment record.
C. Complete log entries in internship folder.
D. Weekly reflection of clinical experiences.