Dental Assisting

An exploration of dental health career options. Provides information that enables students to make informed decisions about future career pathways.

A writing course designed primarily to meet the needs of students pursuing career and technical programs. Meets the written composition graduation requirement for an AHC associate's degree. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution will need to take ENGL 101 instead of this course to meet the university's first-year composition requirement. Readings will be drawn from the disciplines involved so that students master comprehension and critical reading skills in real-world texts. Writing assignments and projects will similarly be based upon the types of critical thinking and analytical writing required in the students' fields of study. Research methods and skills will be emphasized. 

Designed to help students enhance their analytical reading and writing skills using a wide variety of texts. Emphasizes college-level expository essay construction, communication, and research methods leading to the preparation and writing of a research paper. 

Select one course from this list.

If you take any of the following courses, you will also satisfy the Multicultural/Gender Studies requirement:

ART 101, 105, 109, 170; DANC 101p; DRMA 103; ENGL 130, 131, 139, 140, 148; ECS 116; FASH 104; FILM 101, 102, 103, 108, 109; HIST 101, 102, 103, 120; HUM 101, 102, 103; MUS 104, 106; PHIL 121; SPAN 102, 103, 104, 105, 112

Select one course from this list.

If you take any of the following courses, you will also satisfy the Multicultural/Gender Studies requirement:

ANTH 102, 103, 105; BUS 141; ECON 141; ENGL 105; GBST 141; GEOG 102, 103; LGBT 101, 102; POLS 104, 105; SOC 101, 102, 120, 122; SPCH 110

Or select one course from this list.

Choose one of the following courses:

• ES 1231, African American History
• HIST 107, U S History to 1877
• HIST 108, US History from 1877 to the Present
• HIST 118, U S History to 1877
• HIST 119, History of California
• POLS 101, Introduction to Political Science
• POLS 103, American Government

If you take any of the following courses, you will also satisfy the AHC graduation requirement of area 4B: Communication and Analytical Thinking.
Recommended courses: MATH 100, 105, 123, 135, 181, 321; or select one course from this list.

Designed to help students assess their health status and use those assessments to change the behaviors that contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. Students are provided with a broad foundation of knowledge dealing with mental health, stress management, fitness, diet and weight control, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, drugs and alcohol, first aid, cancer prevention and control, and the scope of community health services.

Select one course from this list.

You can choose a course in any subject that has a 100-199 in its title. For example ENGL 100 or ASTR 121.

NOTE: Not all 100-level courses are UC-transferable. See the IGETC sheet for UC eligible courses.

The course presents basic terminology related to human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on head and neck anatomy. It introduces the bio-dental sciences: dental nomenclature, embryology, histology, morphology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology,nutrition and preventive dentistry.

The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on the dental assisting theory.

The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on dental assistant skills.

This course includes emphasis on professional licensing requirements. Business skills are reviewed and developed for practical application in the office. Skills include clinical charting systems, treatment planning, communication skills as they relate to patient management, inventory management, appointment book management, patient recall systems, and other related administrative duties. Employment strategies are discussed. Dental software is utilized.

The course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills in the community and public health settings. The student would participate in dental screenings, provide oral hygiene instruction, and apply fluoride varnish on children and migrant families in the community.

Recommended for both 3^rd and 4^th semesters:

The course focuses on intra-oral procedures including temporary crowns, temporary restorations, as well as clinical procedures performed by Registered Dental Assistants. Emphasis is also given to the California State Board testing requirements.

This course covers the principles and procedures related to dental radiography and digital imaging.Topics include history,radiation physics and biological effects, protection procedures and safety guidelines. It includes film identification, processing, mounting, and evaluation. Laboratory exposures on manikin cover intra-oral techniques for periapical and bitewing films using various techniques and film-holding devices. Clinical exposures of patients are completed with authorization of a licensed dentist, evaluated by faculty, and utilized by the dentist for diagnostic purposes. A State Dental Board certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.

This course provides clinical experiences in dental screening skills. Emphasis is on performing four-handed chair-side dental assisting, identifying, and recording patient clinical findings of intra-oral and extra-oral dental examinations. Eligible patients would be provided with the opportunity to schedule subsequent dental appointments in radiography, coronal polish, and pit and fissure sealant clinics.

Thc course provides theory and clinical applications of resin materials, pit and fissure sealants, on developing teeth to prevent cavities.

This course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills.

This course meets the requirements of the California Board of Dentistry. It includes techniques for removal of pellicle, plaque, and extrinsic stain from the clinical crown. Students will be evaluated on adherence to sterilization and infection control policies and procedures as well as actual provision of care on three dental patients.

The course prepares students to take the California Dental Board law and ethics examination. It covers the licensure requirements, scope of practice of the registered dental assistant, revocation of license, and ethical standards of practice.

The course is designed to prepare students for the written components of the State Board examination. The California State Practice Act will be reviewed.

Recommended for both 3^rd and 4^th semesters:

An exploration of dental health career options. Provides information that enables students to make informed decisions about future career pathways.

The course presents basic terminology related to human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on head and neck anatomy. It introduces the bio-dental sciences: dental nomenclature, embryology, histology, morphology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology,nutrition and preventive dentistry.

The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on the dental assisting theory.

The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on dental assistant skills.

This course includes emphasis on professional licensing requirements. Business skills are reviewed and developed for practical application in the office. Skills include clinical charting systems, treatment planning, communication skills as they relate to patient management, inventory management, appointment book management, patient recall systems, and other related administrative duties. Employment strategies are discussed. Dental software is utilized.

The course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills in the community and public health settings. The student would participate in dental screenings, provide oral hygiene instruction, and apply fluoride varnish on children and migrant families in the community.

Recommended for both 2^nd and 3^rd semesters:

The course focuses on intra-oral procedures including temporary crowns, temporary restorations, as well as clinical procedures performed by Registered Dental Assistants. Emphasis is also given to the California State Board testing requirements.

This course covers the principles and procedures related to dental radiography and digital imaging.Topics include history,radiation physics and biological effects, protection procedures and safety guidelines. It includes film identification, processing, mounting, and evaluation. Laboratory exposures on manikin cover intra-oral techniques for periapical and bitewing films using various techniques and film-holding devices. Clinical exposures of patients are completed with authorization of a licensed dentist, evaluated by faculty, and utilized by the dentist for diagnostic purposes. A State Dental Board certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.

This course provides clinical experiences in dental screening skills. Emphasis is on performing four-handed chair-side dental assisting, identifying, and recording patient clinical findings of intra-oral and extra-oral dental examinations. Eligible patients would be provided with the opportunity to schedule subsequent dental appointments in radiography, coronal polish, and pit and fissure sealant clinics.

Thc course provides theory and clinical applications of resin materials, pit and fissure sealants, on developing teeth to prevent cavities.

This course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills.

This course meets the requirements of the California Board of Dentistry. It includes techniques for removal of pellicle, plaque, and extrinsic stain from the clinical crown. Students will be evaluated on adherence to sterilization and infection control policies and procedures as well as actual provision of care on three dental patients.

The course prepares students to take the California Dental Board law and ethics examination. It covers the licensure requirements, scope of practice of the registered dental assistant, revocation of license, and ethical standards of practice.

The course is designed to prepare students for the written components of the State Board examination. The California State Practice Act will be reviewed.

Recommended for both 2^nd and 3^rd semesters: