College of San Mateo
Official Course Outline
1. COURSE ID: DENT 753 TITLE: Dental Assisting Clinical Practice
Semester Units/Hours: 5.0 units; a minimum of 16.0 lecture hours/semester; a minimum of 240.0 lab
hours/semester
Method of Grading: Letter Grade Only
Prerequisite: DENT 751
2. COURSE DESIGNATION:
Degree Credit
Transfer credit: CSU
3. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
Catalog Description:
Clinical experience in dental assisting for students in the dental assisting program supplemented by
corequisite classes and individual counseling from an instructor-coordinator of the Dental Assisting
Program. Clinical work must be unpaid and a certain number of hours accumulated per ADA Accreditation
Standards. For students enrolled full time in the Dental Assisting Program. Offered during Spring
semesters only.
4. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME(S) (SLO'S):
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will meet the following outcomes:
1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally & effectively with patients and the dental team.
2. Demonstrates the ability to assist properly at the chair.
3. Demonstrates knowledge of dental procedures and instruments.
4. Demonstrates OSHA compliant disinfection & sterilization techniques utilized by the dental office.
5. Demonstrates ability to perform basic front business office procedures.
5. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally and effectively with patients and dental team.
2. Demonstrate the ability to assist properly at the chair.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of dental procedures and instruments.
4. Demonstrate OSHA compliant disinfection and sterilization techniques utilized by the dental office.
5. Demonstrate ability to perform basic front business office procedures.
6. COURSE CONTENT:
Lecture Content:
1. Preparation / cooperation / attitude
A. Team player
B. Follows directions
2. Specialized and general dental instrumentation
A. Procedure set-ups
B. Knowledge of cassette vs. Tray systems
C. Instrument identification
3. Dental Terminology
A. Use of proper professional language
4. Dental Assisting skills, procedures, and materials
A. Knowledge and practice of various dental procedures utilizing direct patient care
B. Mixing of dental cements, impression materials, and other patient related medicaments
C. Practice of chairside learned skills
5. Obtaining dental office feedback
A. Student gains feedback of skills from office professionals
B. Student accepts constructive criticism
6. Provide/collect clinical supportive procedures
A. Student charts effectively both on paper and in the computer system
B. Student adequately takes effective and useful impressions for study models
7. Provide oral health instructions
A. Tooth brushing techniques
A. Tooth brushing techniques
B. Flossing techniques
C. Oral health aides
D. Stresses importance of oral hygiene routine
8. Perform laboratory procedures
A. Fabricates bleach trays, mouth guards, & temporary crowns
B. Keeps lab organized and clean
C. Organizes lab cases
9. Expose and develop dental radiographs (x-rays)
A. Takes periapical x-rays adequately
B. Takes bitewing x-rays adequately
C. Takes full mouth series adequately
D. Takes panographic x-ray adequately
10. Perform basic business office procedures
A. Answers phone appropriately
B. Schedules appointments
C. Knowledge of basic insurance billing procedures
See Document 2.1 A for expanded course description for DENT 647
Lab Content:
Clinical Practice
Clinical experience assisting a dentist must be an integral part of the educational program designed to
perfect students' competence in performing dental assisting functions, rather than to provide basic
instruction.
Examples of evidence to demonstrate compliance may include:
• Each student has 300 hours of clinical experience in performing the functions listed in the Accreditation
Standards. Each student must be assigned to two or more offices or clinics for clinical experience and
assisting in general dentistry situations is emphasized.
The major portion of the students' time in clinical assignments must be spent assisting with or participating
in patient care.
The dental assisting faculty must plan, supervise and evaluate the student's clinical experience.
Intent: The quality and variety of experiences gained in each assignment is considered as well as the quality
of functions performed.
Students must maintain a record of their activities in each clinical assignment.
Seminars must be conducted periodically with students during the clinical phase of the program.
Intent: Program faculty conduct seminars during clinical courses.
When clinical experience is provided in extramural facilities, a dental assisting faculty member must visit
each facility to assess each student's progress. Provisions must be made to support travel required for
faculty to supervise this activity.
Objective evaluation criteria must be utilized by faculty and office or clinical personnel to evaluate
students' competence in performing specified procedures during clinical experiences.
Curriculum Content Standard 2-12 from ADA/CODA Accreditation Standards
General Education
The general education aspect of the curriculum must include content at the familiarity level in:
a. Oral communications
b. Written communications
c. Psychology of patient management and interpersonal relations
Intent: General education subjects prepare the student to work and communicate effectively with patients
and health professionals.
Letters A and B relate to the English and Speech requirements in the Dental Assisting Program due to the
accreditation standards.
7. REPRESENTATIVE METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Typical methods of instruction may include:
A. Lecture
B. Lab
C. Field Experience
D. Individualized Instruction
E. Observation and Demonstration
F. Other (Specify): Students participate in two 8 week rotations during the spring semester in private dental
offices within San Mateo County. One 8 week rotation is spent in a general practice dental office and the
next 8 week rotation is spent in a specialty practice dental office. Students are required to submit a weekly
report of activities of their experiences along with verification of attendance slips signed by the dentist.
8. REPRESENTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS
Representative assignments in this course may include, but are not limited to the following:
Writing Assignments:
Students are required to submit a weekly report of activities and their experiences.
9. REPRESENTATIVE METHODS OF EVALUATION
Representative methods of evaluation may include:
A. Class Participation
B. The dentists and dental team evaluate the student's performance while in that particular dental office. The
student is evaluated after each rotation. The dentist reviews the evaluation with the student and then
submits evaluation forms to the instructor. The student must submit a weekly report of activities and
experiences along with verification of attendance slips signed by the dentist. To determine the final course
grade, the instructor considers the student's reports, evaluations from the dental practices, and attendance
hours.
10. REPRESENTATIVE TEXT(S):
Possible textbooks include:
A. Torres and Ehrlich, Doni L. Bird, Debbie S. Robinson. Modern Dental Assisting, 9th ed. -, 2009
Origination Date: August 2010
Curriculum Committee Approval Date: April 2014
Effective Term: Fall 2014
Course Originator: Beth LaRochelle