The Dental Assisting Program prepares learners for entry-level chairside and administrative roles in dental practices, combining clinical training, radiography, infection control, and patient care skills aligned with today’s fast-growing dental healthcare field.
This program provides learners with comprehensive training in both clinical and administrative dental assisting, including a family care specialization that prepares them to work with patients across all age groups. Learners gain hands-on experience in chairside assisting, radiology, infection control, and dental office operations, with optional externship experience to strengthen real-world readiness and employability in a rapidly growing healthcare profession.
Module 1: Healthcare Foundations and Professional Practice
Introduces healthcare history, professional etiquette, and foundational expectations for clinical environments.
Module 2: Communication and Healthcare Team Collaboration
Focuses on effective communication strategies, teamwork dynamics, and contributing to successful healthcare team performance.
Module 3: HIPAA Compliance and Medical Documentation
Covers patient privacy regulations, legal requirements, and proper handling of medical records and documentation.
Module 4: OSHA Standards and Infection Control Compliance
Explores workplace safety, infection prevention, sterilization, hazard control, and OSHA regulatory requirements.
Module 5: Medical Terminology and Clinical Language
Introduces medical word structure, anatomical language, and terminology used in diagnostics and radiology.
Module 6: Anatomy and Physiology Essentials
Covers foundational body systems including musculoskeletal, integumentary, digestive, and urinary systems.
Module 7: Infection Prevention and Clinical Safety Practices
Focuses on microbiology, disease transmission, sterilization techniques, waste management, and ergonomic safety.
Module 8: Radiographic Imaging Principles and Procedures
Covers radiology fundamentals, imaging technology, radiation safety, and intraoral and extraoral imaging techniques.
Module 9: Dental Sciences and Professional Practice
Explores dental history, ethics, law, anatomy, oral structures, and the role of the dental assistant in healthcare teams.
Module 10: Patient Care and Dental Office Administration
Focuses on patient records, vital signs, treatment planning, pharmacology, emergencies, communication, and office management.
Module 11: Clinical Dentistry and Chairside Assisting
Covers preventive, restorative, and surgical dental procedures, instruments, materials, anesthesia, and comprehensive patient care.
By the end of the program, the learner will be able to:
Apply foundational knowledge of dental anatomy, oral structures, and tooth morphology
Assist chairside with a range of dental procedures including restorative, preventive, and surgical care
Demonstrate proper infection control, sterilization, and occupational safety practices
Perform basic dental radiography procedures and support imaging workflows
Support patient care across diverse age groups, including pediatric and geriatric populations
Utilize dental instruments, materials, and equipment effectively in clinical settings
Maintain accurate dental records, charting, and treatment documentation
Apply knowledge of legal, ethical, and regulatory standards in dental practice
Communicate effectively with patients and dental team members in professional settings
Support administrative functions including scheduling, coding, and office workflow processes
Upon successful completion of this program, students are prepared to sit for the included certification exams. The DANB RHS exam is a component of both the NELDA and CDA certifications, while the DANB ICE exam is a component of the NELDA, CDA, and COA certifications. There are no eligibility requirements to take the RHS or ICE exams, so they may be taken at any time.
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.