Expanded Duty Dental Assisting

Program overview

The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program is a Diploma program that is three semesters in length and is comprised of didactic, clinical, and laboratory courses offered at the Health Science Campus. In addition to on-site clinical experiences, dental assisting students will have the opportunity to gain meaningful experiences through off-site clinical rotations. Dental assisting students will be able to study and practice all expanded duties that they will be certified to perform, including assisting the dentist with restorative procedures, teaching oral hygiene instruction, taking impressions of teeth, polishing structures above the gum-line, taking radiographs (x-rays), placing preventive sealants to the pits and grooves of teeth, and monitoring of nitrous oxide.

Courses Required

Choose an option

Prerequisite

Basic Anatomy And Physiology

Course Code: BIO-112

This course is a basic integrated study of the structure and function of the human body.

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Communications I

Course Code: ENG-155

This course introduces the principles of expository writing and public speaking through practice and development of communication skills.

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Semester 1

Dental Materials

Course Code: DAT-113

This course is a study of physical and chemical properties of matter and identification, characteristics, and manipulation of dental materials.

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Ethics & Professionalism

Course Code: DAT-115

This course introduces a cursory history of dental assisting, professional associations, scope of service in dentistry, and ethical, legal and professional considerations. The State Dental Practice Act is reviewed.

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Dental Morphology

Course Code: DAT-118

This course emphasizes the development, eruption and individual characteristics of each tooth and surrounding structures.

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Oral Medicine/Oral Biology

Course Code: DAT-123

This course presents a basic study of oral pathology, pharmacology, nutrition, and common emergencies as related to the role of the dental assistant.

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Clinical Procedures I

Course Code: DAT-154

This course includes preparation to assist a dentist efficiently in four-handed dentistry. Emphasis is on the names and functions of all dental instruments, the principles involved in their use, and the assistants' role in dental instrumentation.

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Semester 2

Dental Health Education

Course Code: DAT-121

This course defines the responsibilities of the dental assistant in individual and community dental health education with emphasis on the etiology of dental disease, methods for prevention and principles of nutrition in relationship to oral health and preventive dentistry.

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Dental Office Management

Course Code: DAT-122

This course provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office.

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Dental Radiography

Course Code: DAT-127

This course provides the fundamental background and theory for the safe and effective use of x-radiation in dentistry. It encompasses the history of x-rays, production and uses of radiation, radiographic film, exposure factors, interpretation of radiographs and radiation hygiene.

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Clinical Procedures II

Course Code: DAT-164

This course introduces the instruments and chairside procedures of the dental specialties.

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Human Relations

Course Code: PSY-103

This course is a study of human relations, including the dynamics of behavior, interrelationships, and personality as applied in everyday life.

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Semester 3

Expanded Functions/Specialties

Course Code: DAT-124

This course offers practice in performing the expanded clinical procedures designated by the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry for Dental Assistants.

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Dental Office Experience

Course Code: DAT-177

This course consists of practice in the dental office or clinic with rotation of assignments to encompass experiences in office management and clinical experience in all areas of dentistry.

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Contemporary Mathematics

Course Code: MAT-155

This course includes techniques and applications of the following topics: elementary number theory; algebra; geometry; measurement; graph sketching and interpretations; and descriptive statistics.

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Entry Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes