Health Occupations Center

This course prepares the student to work as a Dental Assistant. Instruction includes sterilization techniques, X-rays, coronal polishing, pit and fissure sealants, chair side assisting. and some basic front office procedures including computer skills. This course is approved by the Dental Board of California and meets the standards of a Registered Dental Assistant program. Upon completion of the course, the student will be eligible to take the Registered Dental Assistant exam. A total of 800 hours of instruction is required for certification and compliance with the California State Dental Practice Act. This instruction is delivered in two components: a 560-hour theory/lab class and a 240-hour Internship.

• Define the role of the Dental Assistant.
• Communicate respectfully and effectively with patients under varying situations, with acceptance of diversity.
• Discuss OSHA regulations which are mandated for workers in a dental setting.
• Research opportunities for career advancement and continuing education.
• Achieve certification in Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider, according to the American Heart Association standards.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Obtain and record patient medical and dental histories and alert dentist to significant findings.
• Take and record patient vital signs, pulse and respiration.
• Prepare armamentarium in proper sequence for dental procedures.
• Give postoperative instructions, prescribed by the dentist, to patients.
• Discuss auxiliary responsibilities when drugs are administered.
• Demonstrate methods of sterilization, disinfection, care and maintenance of instruments and materials commonly used in a dental office.
• Maintain operatory equipment and instruments, including storage, lubrication and sterilization.
• Demonstrate good oral hygiene techniques and explain reasons for and effects of good dental care.
• Assist in the administration of nitrous oxide analgesia or sedative.
• Demonstrate isolation preparation and application of topical fluoride to all teeth.
• Demonstrate isolation and placement of rubber dams.
• Access and utilize technology and information relevant to the dental profession.

• Expose and develop x-rays.
• Pass the California State Radiation Safety Test before starting Internship class.

• Demonstrate efficient manipulative skills in handling preliminary impressions for study models.
• Pour up and trim an impression using plaster and alginate (irreversible hydrocolloid) impressions.
• Construct temporary restorations in quadrant specified by instructor.

• Schedule appointments to provide the dentist and staff with a balanced and varied workload.
• Explain how to order, when to order and from whom to order products typically used in a dental office.
• Prepare patient ledgers, with charges, payments, and balances.
• Use the computer to process documents, create and maintain patient charts, schedule appointments, produce correspondence, send out appointment reminders and billing statements, and keep inventory.

• Locate presence of supragingival calculus, plaque, inflammation, bleeding, mobile and malpositioned teeth, fixed and removable prosthesis and other soft tissue abnormalities.
• Place and remove temporary dressings.
• Select and use proper armamentarium to dry root canals.
• Obtain an endodontic culture.
• Isolate, prepare and test for tooth vitality.
• Apply appropriate base and liner for a prepared tooth.
• Size and prepare stainless steel and temporary crowns.
• Select, prepare, cement, and remove temporary crowns, according to dental state board of regulations.
• Place and legate arch wires.
• Place orthodontic separators using criteria set by the Board of Dental Examiners.
• Place and remove periodontal dressing with minimal amount of tissue trauma.
• Demonstrate proper polishing techniques, practicing patient and operator safety based on COMDA standards.

 

 

According to the California Economic Development Department, employment opportunities for dental assistants are predicted to increase by 16.5% or 8,000 jobs between 2016 and 2026. Explore the links below for more information about the labor market for dental asistants.

 

Kaylia Davis graduated from our dental assisting program here at HOC in 2014. She came back and became one of the instructors for the program in 2023. She is in the process of finishing up courses to obtain her Designated Subjects Teaching Credential to teach Career Technical Education courses in California.  She has certification for X-ray, Coronal Polishing, Pit and Fissure, Sealants, Dental Practice Act, and Infection Control. Kaylia has worked in the dental field for 10 years.