• Chairside Assisting Skills
• X-Ray Certification
• OSHA Training
• CPR Training

This course will run ten (10) consecutive weeks with eight (8) classroom hours per week for a total of eight (80) clock hours of instruction. The course consists of both lecture material as well as clinical "hands on" training. In addition, students will be expected to complete approximately four (4) hours of home study assignments each week to help reinforce lecture materials as well as prepare them for the upcoming week subject matter. This course will cover topics which include chair side assisting ("4-handed techniques"), dental anatomy and charting of patient exam data; as well as front desk skills such as appointment scheduling and preparing patient computerized dental records using practice management software. Training will also include how to assist in procedures from all phases of General Dentistry such as Endodontic (Root Canal), Crown and Bridge, Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery.

We suggest students experience about 20 hours of observation at offsite dental offices of their choice, on their own time. This is optional for each student.

There is an open enrollment policy for this course. The minimum type of education is a High School Diploma or GED. No credit is awarded for previous education training. However, students with prior work experience is a dental office of those currently in a dental office will find this course to be quite rewarding in strengthening their knowledge about dental assisting while helping them for a future career in Dental Hygiene or Dentistry.

Job opportunities for trained dental assistant in today's marketplace are quite good. While no one can guarantee job placement, the dental profession is currently facing a shortage of trained dental assistants. If one examines the want ads for dental assistants, it is obvious the majority require experience. It is precisely this experience that Top of Troy Dental Careers provides for its students.

Following our 10 weeks of training in this course, students will have the confidence and skills necessary to apply for these unfilled positions. Along with your certificate you will receive a letter of recommendation and a summary of your training experience that will be highly beneficial during the interview process.

A portion of your training will involve how to conduct yourself at the job interview itself. Knowing how to prepare, how to dress, and what to say or what not to say are critical. Since jobs are so often lost during the first five minutes of an interview we feel it is important to prepare you for the interviewing process as well. When properly prepared, you will stand out from the rest of those competing for the job opening.

The starting pay scale for experienced dental assistants is considerably higher than for non-experienced positions and most offices will not even consider anyone without experience. We are often asked what a graduate from our course can expect to make in their first job. The answer depends on the office location and the doctor's needs. Offices in a metropolitan area generally pay higher salaries than those in rural areas. Graduates of our course can expect to start well above the pay scale of those without experience.

Course Outline:
The following subjects are covered in depth from both a didactic and practical clinical experience. During their course of study, the students learn the operation of all equipment, instrumentation and materials commonly used in a general dental practice. Details of the student's extensive clinical training are outlined below.

• Dental Theory and Terminology ( 16 Clock Hours-Weeks #1, #2 and #9)
1. Dental and oral anatomy, tooth identification and numbering system
2. Dental terminology
3. Infection control/OSHA and Sterilization
4. Equipment operation, chair positioning, assistant equipment usage

• Four-Handed Dental Assisting ( 8 Clock Hours-Week #3 and #9)
1. Instrument transfer techniques
2. Chair-side assisting, patient suctioning, and doctor-patient-assistant positioning
3. Tub and trays systems of instruments and materials
4. Familiarity and use of instruments and materials in assisting
5. Sterilization theory and terminology, autoclave operation

• Operative Dentistry{ 16 Clock Hours-Week #4, #5 and #9)
1. Composite and Amalgam
2. Crowns and Bridge-impression taking techniques and introduction into various crown types
3. Endodontics-instruments, medicaments and materials
4. Oral Surgery-instruments, procedures and post-op protocol

• Radiology ( 12 Clock Hours-Week #6 and #9)
1. X-ray theory and technique, use of ring holders and other methods
2. Periapical, bitewing and panoramic x-ray exposure techniques
3. X-ray identification, interpretation, safety and precautions

• Impression, Model Trimming and cementation (8 Clock Hours-Week #7 and #9)
1. Impression materials and practice in their uses
2. Wax bites, triple tray impressions
3. Model pouring and trimming
4. Introduction to various cements and liners used in dentistry (practice mixing)

• Receptionist-Front Desk ( 4 Clock Hours-Week #8)
1. Phone techniques and appointment book scheduling
2. Filling all the necessary forms for a new patient
3. Insurance terminology
4. Making the patient feel welcome

• Review all chapters-Final exam (8 Clock Hours-Week #9)
• Basic Life Support, and Preparing for a Job Interview ( 8 Clock Hours-Week 10)