DENT 113 Dental Practice Theory

5 credits

Basic concepts and principles of dental practice are presented in this lecture course. The emphasis is on Infection Control procedures, dental emergencies, accident prevention, assessment procedures, and record keeping. Skills and procedures are practiced by the student with team members, in a laboratory environment.

Prerequisites: Admission into the Dental Assistant program.

Quarters Offered: Fall, Spring

Global Outcome(s)
This course teaches to the global outcome of Teamwork.

Student Outcomes/Competencies:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Discuss concepts and principles related to selected aspects of Preparation, Assessment and Practice Management
Recall knowledge about hazardous materials and use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Describe common accidents/injuries that occur in the dental environment, methods for preventing them, and ways of promoting safety for clients and dental personnel in the dental environment
Recall knowledge of infectious diseases, disease transmission, and body’s defense mechanisms against infection (from Microbiology)
Describe methods for controlling infection in dental practice
Explain how to establish and maintain clinical asepsis and how to problem-solve breaks in the asepsis chain
Compare and contrast effectiveness of various sterilization and disinfection methods
Discuss the physical and legal ramifications of inadequate infection control
Discuss any specific infection control guidelines for clinical and lab procedures introduced this quarter
Discuss appropriate aseptic techniques for obtaining supplies and assembling armamentarium
Describe ways of organizing armamentarium for efficient and safe dental assisting practice
Discuss action to take, in all areas of the Dental Assisting Program, in the event of emergencies (fire, earthquake, etc)
Discuss the protocol, in all areas of the Dental Assisting Program, for obtaining trained emergency care personnel
Explain the location of the emergency kit, oxygen equipment, and emergency telephone numbers
Discuss the rationale for the Program requirement of current First Aid and CPR training
Discuss adaptations for CPR for clients in a dental chair
Explain the rationale for obtaining a comprehensive health history
Discuss types of health history forms (e.g. consent cards, health questionnaire, dental history questionnaire)
Describe medico-legal requirements for completing a health history form
Compare and contrast questionnaire and interview methods for obtaining health history information
List key questions that must be included in a health history questionnaire and the reasons for each
Explain the purpose of assessing a client’s general appearance and of assessing the head and neck
Define inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion
Describe a systematic method and procedures for assessing general appearance and the head and neck
Explain how to record head and neck assessment findings, client’s complaints/comments, and the chart entry
Recall knowledge of the structures of the oral cavity
Explain the purpose of assessing the intra-oral soft tissues
Describe a systematic method and procedures for assessing the intra-oral soft tissues
Explain how to record intra-oral soft tissue findings, client’s complaints/comments, and the chart entry
Recall knowledge of dentitions, tooth identification systems, and dental morphology
Explain the purpose of assessing the dentition
Describe a systematic sequence for assessing the dentition
Describe physical injuries, regressive changes of teeth, and tooth malpositions
Explain how to record the following dental assessment findings: missing teeth, physical injuries, regressive changes of teeth, tooth malpositions, client’s complaints/ comments, and the chart entry
Explain the purpose of recording Angle’s classification of occlusion
Describe a systematic method for determining the classification of occlusion
Explain how to record Angle’s classification of occlusion, client’s complaints/comments, and the chart entry
List vital signs and the rationale for obtaining them for dental assisting care
Describe temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, including normal ranges and factors which may cause variances
Describe procedures for obtaining vital signs
Describe how to record temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, and the chart entry
Recall knowledge of informed consent and confidentiality
Describe dental charts and records used in the Dental Clinic including the rationale for each component of the chart
Describe guidelines for making progress notes for all procedures
Discuss confidentiality as it relates to clinical dental records
Describe medico-legal aspects of charts and records including handling and storage