Dental Assistant
Services

Introductory Dental Assisting

Course Description ¦ Prerequisites ¦ Typical Course Sequence
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Course Description

The Introductory Dental Assisting course is designed for the student with little to no experience or knowledge about the dental field or dental assisting. If you are new to the field, it is highly recommended that you take this course first. This course provides all of the necessary fundamentals to take your first step into the world of dental assisting. Although you will not have a license at this time, you'll be much more prepared to begin building up some work experience. You'll also be well prepared to begin taking the next steps which include earning a dental x-ray license, and becoming a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA

) certificant, and/or a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license.

Class size is capped at a maximum of only three students. This allows you a great opportunity to comfortably ask questions and receive the type of personal attention that larger classes do not always afford. In these small group settings it is also easier to adjust the pace of the class based upon your particular needs, going faster one moment and slower the next.

Patient being examined

Additionally, small class sizes allow you to get to know your instructor better and for your instructor to get to know you as an individual and not simply as a number. At Dental Assistant Services we strive to maintain a personal touch with everyone we work with and pride ourselves on our ability to get to know our students as people with unique backgrounds, personalities, and stories.

This course will teach you basic dental assisting terminology, procedures, and about the materials with which you will need to become familiar. You will also learn the basics of infection control and anatomy. This is not the same as taking an anatomy and physiology course at a college or university. While basic anatomy should be understood, it is not necessary for a dental assistant to go into a more complex and detail intense understanding of anatomy and physiology. In this course you will receive an overview of the essential components of anatomy and physiology necessary to work as a dental assistant. We will not waste your time however with unnecessary anatomical details just to fill up class time.

In addition to lectures, students will be encouraged to actively participate in this course by asking questions and engaging in discussions. You will also have the opportunity to see and touch actual dental assisting materials and equipment. The instructor will demonstrate the proper use of these materials and the equipment and you will then be given an opportunity to learn about their proper use by practicing with them yourself. Reading about a procedure may be educational, but nothing can replace the kind of actual hands on practice offered in this course.

Additionally, all students will receive a thorough course manual describing the content of the course that can be used for reviewing and studying the material. Course manuals are provided in class. No additional textbook purchase is required. The course itself runs for a total of twenty 2½ hour class sessions.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Typical Course Sequence

This chart displays the usual order that students will take our courses and the order in which they obtain their credentials. For a more detailed overview, please click here.

Credential/License:	Courses:	Exams:
N/A	1. Introductory Dental Assisting	None
Dental X-Ray License (LDRT)	2. NJ State Radiology	Radiation Health & Safety (RHS )
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Certificate	3. Review of Radiation Health & Safety* 4. Infection Control 5. General Chairside	Radiation Health & Safety (RHS ) Infection Control General Chairside
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)	6. Expanded Functions	Expanded Functions

*If you obtained your dental x-ray license in NJ you will most likely not have to take the Review of Radiation Health & Safety course in order to obtain a CDA

certificate.