Clinical Dental Assistant Course

When you become a dental assistant, you’ll enjoy a career that is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. Caring dental assistants truly make a difference with clients, providing comfort and education. Plus, this field offers flexible hours and is expected to grow exponentially in the future. Dental assistant school is the first step you need to take, and this online Clinical Dental Assistant course will prepare you to become a productive and successful member of a dental hygienist team.

This online dental assisting course is the most comprehensive you’ll find. You’ll learn about every aspect of professional dental assisting, including invaluable real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants and essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more.

Toward the end of the course—or after completion—you will have the opportunity to apply for an externship, where you’ll get real-life clinical assistant experience. You’ll also be ready to pursue certification as a dental assistant by passing the radiology and infection control portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examination. The exam or one or more of its components is necessary in states where registration is required for dental assistants.

Clinical Dental Assistant Externship

The 40-hour Dental Externship is only offered to Clinical Dental Assistant students. The application for the externship is within the course. You must be at least 80% complete with the course before applying but will also have up to 6 months after completion to apply. The externship is not guaranteed. It is an optional part of the course, but highly recommended training for clinical assistant experience. Accepted externship students will be assisted in finding local offices that they are interested in. Externship students will need to pass a background check and a possible drug test. You will be asked to purchase liability insurance and be responsible for purchasing this on their own ($40 to $45 for an annual policy). You will need to provide an updated resume, current CPR certification and proof of current Hepatitis B vaccinations or a current negative test form provided by a doctor, depending on the state or the doctor office that has been selected for the externship. There may be more requirements depending on the state or dental office selected.

CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT, CDA AND DANB are trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc (DANB). This course is not reviewed or endorsed by DANB

1. Overview of the Dental Profession
   1. Introduction to the Practice of Dentistry
   2. The Dental Patient
   3. Dental Practice
   4. Employment Strategies
2. Dental Health and Disease
   1. Oral Health and Preventative Techniques
   2. Nutrition
   3. Etiology of Dental Disease
3. Anatomy and Physiology
   1. Basic Human Physiology
   2. Head and Neck Anatomy
   3. Embryology and Histology
   4. Tooth Morphology
4. Infection Control
   1. Microbiology
   2. Infection Control
   3. Management of Hazardous Materials
5. Basics of Dental Assisting
   1. Patient Care
   2. Dental Charting
   3. Pharmacology
   4. Emergency Management
   5. Chair-side Assisting
   6. Dental Instruments and Tray Setups
   7. Instrument Transfer and Maintaining the Operating Field
   8. Anesthesia and Sedation
6. Radiology
   1. Producing Quality Radiographs
   2. Processing Quality Radiographs
   3. Extraoral and Digital Radiography
7. Dental Materials
   1. Dental Cements, Bases, Liners, and Bonding Agents
   2. Restorative Materials, Dental Dams, Matrix, and Wedges
   3. Laboratory Materials and Techniques
8. Dental Assisting in the Specialty Practice
   1. Endodontics
   2. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
   3. Oral Pathology
   4. Orthodontics
   5. Pediatric Dentistry
   6. Periodontics
   7. Prosthodontics
   8. Oral Radiology
   9. Public Health
   10. Cosmetic Dentistry
9. Dental Office Management