Dental Assisting

Offered By Meditec and Texas A&M Kingsville

Prepare for a career as an entry-level dental assistant and take the first steps towards professional certification. Get started today!

PROGRAM DURATION:
750 hours/12 months

CERTIFICATIONS:
DANB RHS

COST:
$3,695

Program Overview

With this program, you'll prepare yourself for entry-level positions as a chair-side dental assistant. We'll familiarize you with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting and focus on the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice.

You'll learn the history and legal aspects of dentistry, become familiar with how dental offices do business, and discover oral anatomy, tooth structure, and more.

We'll provide a voucher for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). This exam is the first step towards professional certification.

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Program Comparison

	Meditec	College	Other Online Schools
Program & Tuition Cost	$3500 Average	Up to $20,000	Average $3,000
Exams Fees, Books & Materials	Included	Up to $750	Up to $750
Program Completion Time	3-6 months	24-48 months	3-6 months
Tailored Content and Exams	Interactive and engaging learning methods to prepare you for your career	Resource Library	N/A
Schedule/Flexibility	100% online and available 24/7	Set Schedule	100% online and available 24/7
Student Support	Student and Peer Support - Text, Call, Email	Scheduled Office Hours	Support Email

Program Details

In this self-paced online course, you'll discover the equipment and materials used by dental assistants and become familiar with dental office procedures and operations.

You'll also learn best practices in three critical areas: chairside dental assisting, infectious disease control in a dental office, and radiographic imaging with an emphasis on health and safety.

At the end of the course, you'll be ready to take DANB's RHS exam, using the voucher we'll provide for exam registration. You can also choose to take DANB's Infection Control Exam (ICE). The RHS and ICE exams have no eligibility or experience requirements, and passing these exams is a good way to prove your competencies to professional employers as you're starting out.

These exams are also the first steps towards earning DANB National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) or Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification, both of which are valuable credentials for career advancement.

Please note, although this program meets employment requirements in most states, some states require applicants to have CDA certification, which requires additional education, experience, and exams. Please check the requirements where you live.

Once you've earned a grade of 85% or better on at least 50 hours of your coursework, you have the option of a 40-hour unpaid clinical externship with a local healthcare provider. You must pass a background check and a drug screen to be eligible, and depending on the requirements of your externship site, you may need to show proof of immunization, 2-step TB test, flu shot, and CPR certification. You're responsible for any additional fees for this process.

Additional Information

Program Outline

Room and Patient Preparation
- Preparing the Treatment Room
- Seating and Preparing the Patient
Equipment Preparation and Maintenance
- Selecting Appropriate Equipment
- Preparing Trays for Various Procedures Preparing Impression Trays
- Ensuring Proper Operation of Dental Handpieces
Materials Preparation and Maintenance
- Selecting Appropriate Equipment
- Preparing and Storing Impression Materials Preparing and Storing Sedatives and Palliative Materials
- Preparing and Storing Finishing, Polishing, and Cleaning Agents
- Manipulating and Storing Laboratory Materials
- Conducting Laboratory Procedures
Four-Handed Dentistry
- Practicing Four-Handed Dentistry (Introduction)
- Positioning Equipment for Access and Visibility Transferring Instruments
Assistance during Procedures
- Managing the Patient’s Experience
- Preparing the Oral Cavity Maintaining Field of Operation
- Applying Fluoride and Polishing Teeth
- Assisting with Anesthesia
- Performing a Vitality Test
- Placing and Removing Temporary Cement
- Controlling Minor Bleeding
Data Collection and Recording
- Conducting the Preliminary Physical Examination
- Charting Aiding Diagnoses
- Recording Patient Responses to Drugs or Medication
- Documenting the Treatment Plan
Emergency Prevention and Management
- Identifying Medical Conditions That May Trigger Emergencies
- Utilizing Preventative Measures for Drug Administration
- Responding to Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office
- Recognizing Symptoms of and Responding Dental Emergencies
- Assembling and Maintaining Emergency Supplies
Patient Education
- Managing Oral Health
- Monitoring Good Nutrition Providing Pre and Post Treatment Instructions
Office Operations
- Controlling Inventory
- Maintaining Equipment and Instruments Communicating with Patients and Team Members
- Scheduling Appointments and Initiating Referrals
- Managing Financial Records
Legal Issues
- Maintaining Confidentiality of Patient Records
- Obtaining Consent for Routine and Emergency Care
- Respecting a Patient’s Right to Privacy
- Dealing with Threats and Non-compliance
- Ensuring Compliance with OSHA and CDC Guidelines
Introduction to Infectious Diseases
- Understanding Infectious Diseases
- The Impact of Disease Transmission
- Promoting Immunization
Infectious Disease Control
- Preventing Cross- Contamination
- Maintaining Aseptic Conditions
- Sterilizing Instruments
- Disinfecting the Workplace, Equipment, and Supplies
Occupational Safety
- Following OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Regulations
- Following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard Regulations
- Incorporating Engineering and Workplace Controls
- Applying Appropriate First-Aid Procedures
- Documenting and Reporting Incidents
Radiographic Techniques and Equipment
- Understanding Radiographic Techniques
- Selecting Radiographic Equipment
- Acquiring Radiographic Images
Radiographic Imaging
- Radiographic Exposure
- Intraoral Imaging
- Extraoral Imaging
- Digital Radiography
- Evaluating Radiographic Images
Radiographic Precautions
- Preventing Cross- Contamination
- Understanding ADA/CDC and OSHA Guidelines
Patient Management During Radiography
- Addressing Patient Concerns
- Managing Special-Needs Patients
Radiographic Film Processing
- Working with Processing Solutions
- Working with Film Processors
- Taking Necessary Precautions
Radiographic Image Mounting and Labeling
- Mounting Radiographic Images
- Identifying Anatomical Structures in Radiographic Images
- Preparing Radiographic Images for Viewing and Duplication
Radiation Safety for the Patient
- Operating Radiographic Equipment Safely
- Protecting the Patient from Unnecessary X-Radiation
Radiation Safety for the Operator and Other Staff
- Protecting the Operator and Other Staff from Unnecessary X-Radiation

Monitoring Individual X-Radiation Exposure

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Dental Assisting

Offered By Meditec and Texas A&M Kingsville

Program Overview

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Program Comparison

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Program Outline

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