Dental Assisting Shop is a performance based course. This course covers the details of the dental office environment. Dental assisting skills presented in this section include; hand hygiene, selection and donning of PPE, selection and implementation of chairside barriers, ergonomics in the dental environment, maintenance of dental units, delivering dental care, Slow-speed dental handpiece care and operation, coronal polishing, infection control practices including, surface disinfection and sterilization techniques, instrument transfer techniques, moisture control, alginate manipulation and application, gypsum properties and manipulation for study casts. Employability skills and the ability to work in a team environment are introduced. Safety is of the utmost concern and is stressed and practiced during every year of the dental assisting program

Principles of Dental Assisting introduces the student to dental terminology, knowledge of the dental healthcare team, the history of dentistry, the dental assisting profession, medical and health histories paper and electronic, and tooth morphology. Students are introduced to the study of disease prevention. Education in the areas of; management and selection of PPE; strategies to prevent disease transmission; dental charting, current events and patient communication skills, surface disinfection composition; aseptic techniques are introduced; and supply inventory.

Dental Assisting 10th grade is a performance-based course. Emphasis is placed on procedures for which the dental assistant is directly responsible. Foundation knowledge and skills acquired during freshman year will be built upon. The students practice procedures performed in general dentistry. In order to prepare for The Dental Assisting National Board Infection Control Certification, Infection Control and Health and safety practices will be a large part of this year’s instruction. This course includes; instrument processing and sterilization methods, biological monitoring, intermediate-level surface disinfection, universal standard precautions, monitoring patient vital signs, donning personal protective equipment, syringe assembly, intraoral topical placement, utilization of tray setups for general practice, Tofflemire matrix assembly, handpiece, and rotary instrument care, instrument transfer, moisture control, dental dam application, restorative materials and procedures, manipulation of dental cement, preventative measures, custom tray fabrication, vacuum forming, study casts, bite registrations, and introduction to dental radiography radiation safety. Employability and accountability skills are expected, requiring students to be in school uniform or shop top on prescribed days or events. Students receive certification in CPR Healthcare provider level. Students learn hands-on procedures in a simulated dental environment.

The Principles of Dental Assisting is theory instruction intended to complement the vocational instruction and laboratory projects taught during the sophomore year. This course will cover topics in; understanding the embryonic development and histology of the skull and dentition; functions of bodily systems; the characteristics and functions of human dentition; and tooth morphology. Students also receive instruction in maintaining dental patient records, manual dental charting, dental instrumentation, chairside techniques, and responding to client needs. Education in the areas of dental material recognition includes gypsum properties and manipulation, alginate properties and manipulation, amalgam materials, composite materials, dental waxes, foundations of dental cement, and dental terminology. All aspects of infection control needed by dental healthcare workers to conduct themselves efficiently and safely in the workplace are instilled. Education in the areas of; management and selection of personal protective equipment; strategies to prevent disease transmission; theory instruction on dental instrument care, instrument processing, and sterilization techniques; surface disinfection solutions and active ingredients; and aseptic techniques are reinforced. Occupational safety; hazard communication standards and quality assurance procedures; selection of safety devices; and immunization of healthcare workers are covered.

The focus is on preparing the student for the Dental Assisting National Board Infection Control exam. The areas of education and training in this section will also include microbiology, dental unit water asepsis, management and interpretation of SDS sheets, management of hazardous materials, dental waste disposal, a comprehensive study of Bloodborne pathogens and the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, emerging diseases, oral and respiratory disease prevention, and CDC prevention guidelines for infection control in a dental health care setting. Career
portfolios are updated throughout the school year.

The 11th grade is a performance-based course. This course prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Board Exam in Dental Radiography Health and Safety. This course includes exposing and evaluating radiographs using digital and film imaging techniques, radiation safety for patients and operators, paralleling and bisecting angle techniques, intraoral images and extraoral images, state and local regulations when operating radiographic equipment. Advanced chairside assisting skills include oral surgery procedures, orthodontic care, and procedures, periodontic assisting, prosthodontic procedures fixed and removable, and infection control procedures. Chairside skills in restorative procedures are reinforced. Office management skills include computer technology software used in the dental environment. Skills using Eaglesoft software include appointment book scheduling, electronic billing, computerized patient intake, and charting. Participation in clinical externships in local dental offices and clinics are part of this course.

The 12th grade is a performance-based course. This course continues to prepare students for Clinical Externship, state credentialing and workplace readiness. Dental Radiography topics include exposing and evaluating radiographs using digital and film imaging techniques, intraoral and extraoral imaging techniques on adult, child, and edentulous dentition. Exposure of Dental Radiographs on two or more live patients is required. Advanced chairside assisting skills include endodontic assisting, pediatric dental procedures and assisting, periodontal procedures, assisting with implant dentistry, and infection control protocols. Digital Office management skills using Eagle software include appointment book scheduling, electronic billing, computerized patient intake, and charting. Renewal of Healthcare provider level CPR and participation in clinical externship in local dental offices and clinics are part of this course. Participating in a community service project locally and/or at the Yankee Dental Convention in Boston is encouraged. Eligible students can participate in approved cooperative learning experiences.