Manchester Community College

Prepares students for an entry-level position as a Dental Assistant along with elements and principles of ethical decision making that underpin good clinical practice.

Prepares patients for dental treatments. Identifies necessary materials and instruments for various types of dental treatments and how to clean and sterilize them.  Assists the dentist and/or dental hygienist by performing tasks such as handing them the proper equipment, using suction hoses to keep a patient's mouths dry, processing X-rays, properly noting dental charts, and dealing with emergency situations.

Advises patients how to maintain proper dental hygiene.  Learns proper techniques to avoid the transmission of disease in the dental environment and learns the various types of anesthesia used.

Assists the dentist and/or dental hygienist during various types of composite restoration procedures and with the creation of crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and dentures. Identifies and explains different instruments and procedures used in the specialty dental fields of endodontics, periodontics, pediatrics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Schedules and views appointments, maintains billing records, processes insurance claims, maintains employee time cards, adheres to confidentiality requirements, and creates e-claims using dental software.

Describes how to follow HIPPA requirements. Learns the process of an OSHA site visit.

On average this course is 274 hours of independent, online instruction.

For more detailed information: Dental Assistant PROGRAM OUTLINE

This course is WIOA Approved.