Academic Catalog

D A 88: PIT & FISSURE SEALANTS

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 1.5
Hours: 1 lecture, 2 laboratory per week (36 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to use various isolation techniques to prevent saliva contamination when placing sealants
  • The student will be able to differentiate between sound and carious enamel utilizing computerized caries detection equipment.
  • The student will place a clinically acceptable dental sealant on a patient.

Description

This course provides both the theoretical foundation and hands-on practice necessary for the safe and effective placement of pit and fissure sealants by Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs) to help prevent tooth decay. Students receive comprehensive instruction in oral anatomy, dental materials, microbiology, pharmacology, and preventive dentistry as they relate to sealant application. Emphasis is placed on legal requirements, material handling, clinical protocols, and evaluation techniques. Didactic, laboratory, and clinical instruction are conducted in compliance with Dental Board of California regulations and meet the educational requirements for pit and fissure sealant certification. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice Competency

  1. Describe normal and abnormal anatomical and physiological characteristics of teeth relevant to sealant placement.
  2. Explain the histological, microbiological, and pathological principles supporting the use of sealants in preventive dentistry.
  3. Identify the indications and contraindications for pit and fissure sealant placement.
  4. Compare the composition, polymerization, handling, and storage requirements of etchants, bonding agents, and sealant materials.
  5. Select and properly assemble armamentaria for sealant placement procedures.
  6. Demonstrate correct procedures for tooth preparation, moisture control, acid etching or etchant/bonding techniques, and sealant placement on typodonts and patients.
  7. Evaluate sealants for proper retention, coverage, and occlusion, and perform necessary adjustments.
  8. Develop a recall and re-evaluation protocol for patients with pit and fissure sealants.

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

  1. Demonstrate required infection control procedures, in accordance with Minimum Standards, to prevent cross-contamination and ensure patient safety.
  2. Demonstrate proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste related to sealant procedures, with appropriate use and review of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for materials involved.

Ethical and Legal Principles

  1. Describe the licensure, certification, and supervision requirements for a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) to place pit and fissure sealants in California.
  2. Explain the legal and ethical implications of performing duties beyond the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) scope of practice.
  3. Verify and evaluate that all required patient documents, including informed consent and procedure records, are complete, accurate, and compliant with legal and professional standards.

Course Content

Dental Assisting Theory and Practice Competency

  1. Oral anatomy, histology, and physiology (as they relate to pit and fissure sealants)
    1. Tissues of the tooth
      1. Enamel
        1. General characteristics
        2. Formation
        3. Composition
      2. Dentin
        1. General characteristics
        2. Formation
        3. Composition
    2. Tooth morphology
      1. Normal anatomical and physiological descriptions
        1. Grooves
        2. Pits
        3. Ridges (marginal, triangular, oblique)
        4. Fissures
        5. Inclined plane
        6. Cusp
        7. Fossa (circular, triangular)
        8. Lobe
      2. Occlusion
        1. Centric
        2. Occlusal stops
        3. Edward Angle's classifications of malocclusion
          1. Class I
          2. Class II
          3. Class III
        4. Buccoversion, linguoversion, infraversion, torsoversion
      3. Supplemental structures
        1. Contact area or point
        2. Embrasure
        3. Proximal contact
        4. Interproximal space
        5. Anatomical and clinical crown
        6. Free gingival line
        7. Height of contour
        8. Vestibule
        9. Oral cavity proper
    3. Salivary glands
      1. Saliva composition
        1. Serous
        2. Mucous
      2. Glands and their location
        1. Parotid
        2. Submandibular
        3. Sublingual
        4. Minor glands
      3. Ducts and their location
        1. Stenson's
        2. Wharton's
        3. Ducts of Rivinus
      4. Abnormal anatomical and physiological descriptions
        1. Irregularities on tooth structure
          1. Fracture lines
          2. Rough or exposed cementum
          3. Erosion
          4. Carious lesions
          5. Hypoplastic enamel
          6. Fissures
  2. Demineralization and caries process
    1. General production theory
      1. Anatomy and surface morphology of teeth
      2. Chewing forces and abrasion
      3. Eruption stages
      4. Patient age factors
      5. Familial factors
    2. Plaque formation and its relationship to pellicle
      1. Acquired pellicle's role in de-mineralization and re-mineralization
  3. Criteria for selecting teeth for sealant placement
    1. Indications for sealant placement
      1. Pit and fissure considerations
      2. Newly erupted teeth
      3. Conjunction with preventive program (i.e., fluoride)
      4. Use with conservative preventive resin restoration
    2. Contraindications
      1. Ideal pit and fissure anatomy
      2. Caries
  4. Compare the effectiveness of sealants vs. other preventive measures
    1. Goal of sealant application
    2. Positive effects of sealant application
    3. History of sealants
    4. Time of inception
    5. Rationale for lack of acceptance
      1. Retention
      2. Failure rate factors
      3. Cost factors
        1. Cost-effectiveness of sealants
          1. Sealants as a preventive dentistry restoration
      4. Operator factors
        1. Dentists
        2. Dental hygienist
        3. Dental assistant
      5. Comparison vs. amalgam restorations
      6. Other considerations
        1. School age caries rate
        2. Statistics on untreated caries rate in children and adults
    6. Preventive program overview as they relate to sealants
      1. Fluoride
      2. Flossing
      3. Tooth brushing
      4. Diet
      5. Dental visits
  5. Composition and characteristics of the sealant material
    1. Characteristics of etchant materials
      1. Composition
      2. Process and effects
      3. Indications and contraindications
      4. Storage and handling protocol
    2. Characteristics of sealant materials
      1. Composition
        1. Bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate resins
        2. Urethane-based resin
        3. Sealant with fluoride
        4. Filled vs. unfilled sealant material
      2. Accepted sealant materials ADA Council on Scientific Affairs
      3. Photo cured vs. self-cured sealants
        1. General concepts of polymerization
        2. Self-curing
        3. Light-cured
      4. Form
        1. Self-curing two part system (base and catalyst)
        2. Light-cured single system (pre-mixed)
      5. Shade
        1. Clear
        2. Tinted
        3. Opaque
      6. Storage and handling protocol
  6. Bonding process
    1. Mechanical vs. chemical process
    2. Requirements for adhesion
    3. Strength and viscosity characteristics
    4. Air inhibition theory
  7. Patient
    1. Patient selection factors
    2. Patient pre-op instructions
    3. Review of medical health history
  8. Armamentarium for pit and fissure sealants
    1. Equipment
    2. Materials
    3. Hand instruments
    4. Rotary instruments
  9. Tooth/teeth preparation prior to etching
    1. Techniques (indications and contraindications)
      1. Coronal polish with pumice
      2. Explorer/water technique
      3. Air polishing
      4. Air abrasion
      5. Rotary instrumentation
  10. Moisture control
    1. Characteristics of dry field
    2. Tooth/teeth isolation
      1. Rubber dam
        1. Advantages
        2. Disadvantages
      2. Cotton products isolation
        1. Advantages
        2. Disadvantages
      3. Evacuation system isolation
      4. Supplemental aids: dri-aids, dri-tips, cotton roll holders, rolled gauze, lingua-fix
    3. Use of drying agent
    4. Air dried surface protocol
  11. Acid etching
    1. Application (indications and contraindications)
      1. Pits and fissure coverage
      2. Cusp coverage
      3. Characteristics of application armamentaria
      4. Liquid etch cotton pledget/ball
      5. Gel etch brush or syringe
      6. Exposure time
    2. Rinsing techniques
    3. Etchant evaluation after placement
      1. Surface texture and color
    4. Reconditioning when indicated
  12. Application of sealant material
    1. Application (indications and contraindications)
      1. Pits and fissure coverage
      2. Cusp coverage
      3. Applicator device(s)
        1. Brush
      4. Polymerization time
      5. Sealant placement evaluation
        1. Surface texture and color
        2. Occlusal check and adjustment
  13. Requisites for sealant retention
    1. Surface
      1. Pit and fissure irregularities
      2. Tooth cleanliness
      3. Tooth dryness
    2. Problem-solving
      1. Improperly etched surface
      2. Contamination of application site
      3. Non-adherence of sealant material
  14. Re-call re-evaluation of sealants at subsequent dental appointments
    1. Re-evaluation of sealant at exam or prophy appointments

Infection Control and Hazardous Waste Management

  1. Infection control protocol and regulation review
    1. Dental Board Minimum Standards for infection control guidelines
      1. Unprofessional conduct regulations related to infection control
      2. Cite fines related to infection control regulations
  2. Standard precautions guidelines-pit and fissure sealant
    1. Clinic policies
    2. Handwashing protocol
    3. Protocol prior to patient treatment
    4. Protocol during patient treatment
    5. Protocol after patient treatment
    6. Operatory disinfection and clean-up
    7. Sterilization protocol
  3. SDS for etchant and sealant material
    1. Composition
    2. Hazard
    3. Treatment
    4. Protection
    5. Toxicity
    6. Storage
    7. Disposal considerations
  4. Perform appropriate hazardous waste and sharps management for sealant procedures
    1. Regulated and unregulated waste

Ethical and Legal Principles

  1. Legal requirements for application
    1. Licensure requirements
    2. Course requirements
    3. Certification process
  2. Legal and ethical implications of duties
    1. Dental Practice Act
    2. Dental Board of California
    3. Scope of practice
    4. Consequences of violations
  3. Patient records
    1. Documentation
    2. Confidentiality
    3. Obtaining prescription
    4. Informed consent
    5. Treatment notice

Lab Content

  1. Practice isolation techniques on student-partners
  2. Place sealants on typodont teeth
  3. Apply pit and fissure sealants on a minimum of four patients
    1. Patient qualifications
    2. Tooth requirements
    3. Prescription for sealant

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Lab coat/gown, uniform, clinic shoes, and safety glasses, gloves, and masks.
2. Dental operatories sufficient in number to allow a ratio of at least one operatory for every two students at any one time.
3. Laboratory facilities with individual student work areas.
4. Clinical supplies to support demonstration and student practices activities.
5. Equipment and materials for disinfection, processing of contaminated instruments and sterilization.
6. Emergency materials/basic life support equipment.
7. When taught as a hybrid section, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Final written exam
Peer and instructor laboratory evaluations
Clinical evaluations (four patient experiences)

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Cooperative learning exercises
Laboratory
Demonstration
Clinical practice on patients

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

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

D.S. Robinson. Student Workbook to Accompany Modern Dental Assisting, 14th ed.. 2024.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Weekly reading assignments from textbook and lab manual.
  2. Pre-lab readings and procedural quizzes.
  3. Practice documentation in the treatment record following clinical procedures.

Discipline(s)

Dental Technology