Dental Assistant Course Description

36 Weeks / 765 Clock Hours which includes 225 Clock Hours-Externship / 135 Outside Additional Clock Hours

900 Total Hours / 26 Semester Credits

The program provides the DA with entry-level theory and limited “hands-on” training in basic and routine clinical and office tasks.  A dental assistant is a person who works closely with a dentist, assisting in all dental procedures.  The dental assistant enables the dentist to care for many more patients and to produce more dentistry than they could alone.  Seating and greeting the patient, taking radiographs, impressions, sterilization, suctioning, passing instruments, lab work, basic 4-handed dentistry, and educating the patient are just a few duties of the assistant.  The dental profession continues to grow as a result of the population living longer, as well as advancements in procedures, treatments, prevention, and cosmetic dentistry.  This results in more dental services being desired; therefore, an increasing number of dental assistants will be needed to handle the many responsibilities for which they are uniquely trained.  

Course consists of 4 modules:

• Each module is 9 weeks in length (total of 36 weeks)
• Horn Lake classes are Monday-Friday 8:00am-Noon or 10:00am-2:00pm
• Ridgeland classes are Monday-Friday 8:00am-Noon or 1:00pm-5:00pm
• Module 4 consists of an externship program
• Course total of 765 clock hours– 26 semester credits
• There is an average of 135 independent home study hours for this program.
• One complete uniform, which includes scrub pant, scrub top, and white lab coat with patch and name  badge is included with course.

• Modules 1, 2, and 3 can be taken in any order; however, module 4 will always be taken last by the student.

Course Subject Descriptions Are As Follows:

(click on course title for full catalog listing)

• Module 1

  • DA 100. Principles of Dental Assisting I
  • DA 111. Dental Materials and Infection Control
  • DA 104. Head and Neck Anatomy and Tooth Morphology
  • DA 105. Clinical Dental Assisting I

• Module 2

  • DA 101. Principles of Dental Assisting II
  • DA 106. Dental Radiology with Lab
  • DA 107. Clinical Dental Assisting II
  • DA 113. Dental Practice Management

• Module 3

  • DA 102. Principles of Dental Asssiting III
  • DA 108. Clinical Dental Assisting III
  • DA 112. Dental Specialities

• Module 4

  • DA 114. Externship

Modules 1, 2, and 3 can be taken in any order; however, module 4 will always be taken last by the student. 

Module 1

DA 100 Principles of Dental Assisting I

60 Clock Hours-Lecture / 15 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2.5 Credits

This course provides knowledge and understanding of the dental assisting profession, oral health, preventive techniques, and nutrition.  The course covers the details of dental history, preparing for patient care, vitals, dental charting, and pharmacology. Students will have an understanding of dental diseases and pathology as well as prevention of dental diseases.

DA 111 Dental Materials and Infection Control

45 Clock Hours-Lecture / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course provides knowledge and understanding of microbiology, infection control in dentistry, regulations, and guidelines for the dental practice, and occupational health and safety.  This course also covers the knowledge of chemical and physical properties of dental materials, their indications for use, and proper manipulation of the materials.  The students will have an understanding of emergency management, introduction to the dental office, basic chair side assisting, impression, and laboratory materials.

DA 104 Head & Neck Anatomy and Tooth Morphology

45 Clock Hours-Lecture / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course provides knowledge and understanding of the oral cavity tooth morphology and head and neck anatomy.  The course covers the details of tooth identification and numbering systems.  Osteology of the skull, muscles, nerves and arteries of the head and neck are discussed.  Students will have an understanding of the formation and development for all primary and permanent teeth.     

DA 105 Clinical/Lab Dental Assisting I

30 Clock Hours-Lab / 7.5 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 1 Credit

This course provides clinical dental assisting training for concepts taught in the DA 100, DA 111 and DA 104 courses.  “Hands-On” training is provided and students are expected to demonstrate competency with safety standards, infection control, dental anatomy, oral health, and prevention of dental disease.

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Module 2

DA 101 Principles of Dental Assisting II

30 Clock Hours-Lecture / 7.5 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 1 Credit

This course is a continuation of Principles of Dental Assisting I, and provides knowledge and understanding of patient information and assessment and the foundation of clinical dentistry.  The course covers the details of the dental office environment, delivering dental care, hand instruments, hand pieces, moisture control, anesthesia, restorative materials, and dental cements.

DA 106 Dental Radiology with Lab

60 Clock Hours-Lab / 15 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course provides knowledge and clinical training for dental radiography concepts and techniques in dental radiography.  “Hands-On” training is provided and students are expected to demonstrate competency with x-ray equipment and safety, x-ray film processing, intraoral x-rays and extraoral x-rays.            

DA 113 Dental Practice Management

45 Clock Hours-Lecture / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course provides knowledge and understanding of the business of dentistry and the philosophy of the dental practice.  This course will cover business and communication management, telecommunication, appointment management on a computer, patient recall, inventory, accounts receivable, marketing the practice, and legal/ethical issues.

DA 107 Clinical/Lab Dental Assisting II

45 Clock Hours-Lab / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 1.5 Credits

This course is a continuation of Clinical Dental Assisting I and provides clinical dental assisting training for concepts taught in the DA 101 and DA 106 course.  “Hands-On” training is provided and students are expected to demonstrate competency with patient information, assessment, and the foundation of clinical dentistry as well as radiology.

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Module 3

DA 102 Principles of Dental Assisting III

45 Clock Hours-Lecture / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course is a continuation of Principles of Dental Assisting II and provides knowledge and understanding of dental materials and comprehensive dental care.  This course covers removable and fixed prosthodontics, provisional coverage, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery.

DA 112 Advanced Chairside Functions

45 Clock Hours-Lecture / 11.25 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 2 Credits

This course provides knowledge and understanding on theory, background, procedures, and expanded functions on the role of the dental assistant.  The areas that will be covered are pedodontics, orthodontics,  oral pathology, cosmetic dentistry, and bleaching techniques.

DA 108 Clinical/Lab Dental Assisting III

90 Clock Hours-Lab / 22.5 Additional Outside Clock Hours / 3 Credits

This course is a continuation of Clinical Dental Assisting II and provides clinical dental assisting training for concepts taught in the DA 102 and DA 112 courses.  “Hands-On” training is provided and students are expected to demonstrate competency with dental procedures and comprehensive dental care.

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Module 4

DA 114 Externship

225 Clock Hours-Externship / 5 Credits

In the third module, students will meet with their respective externship coordinator to begin planning their externships. The externship is required for all students and must be completed to be eligible for graduation and to receive their diploma. To qualify for the externship phase of the program, a student must first have met the 2.0 G.P.A. or re-taking a subject, a score of 70% or above on the Comprehensive Class Room Final Exam and have an overall attendance of 90% in his or her medical courses.  All work is performed under the direct supervision of licensed medical personnel at the site in cooperation with DTC’s respective externship coordinator. Student will be scheduled for 225 hours at an extern site that has an externship agreement with DTC.  DTC currently has externship site agreements in place, and those sites have agreed to host dental assisting students.  Externs are not entitled to compensation.

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Additional Requirements: 

Upon successful completion of course work through the 3rd module one complete uniform will be supplied, including scrub pants, scrub top, and lab coat with patch and name badge. Students will be able to purchase additional uniforms as desired. The Hep B Vaccine will also be provided, if needed, beginning in the first term.

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Current sites with agreements at the Horn Lake, MS Campus are:

Current sites with agreements at the Ridgeland, MS Campus are: