syllabus

COURSE SYLLABUS

Infection Control Certification Course: Total 8 Hour Course

WEEK SUBJECT CLOCK HOURS

Week I Orient. to the Profession/ Sterilization & Infection Control   8

COURSE SYLLABUS 

Radiation Safety Certification Course: Total 32 Hour Course

WEEK SUBJECT CLOCK HOURS

Week I Dental Anatomy & Physiology / Dental Radiation Safety Introduction 8

Week II Dental X-Ray Techniques I & II on Manikin  8

Week III Dental Radiation Safety Examination on Manikin  8

Week IV Dental Radiation Safety Examination of Live patients  8

COURSE SYLLABUS

Coronal Polishing Certification Course: Total 12 Hour Course

WEEK SUBJECT CLOCK HOURS

Week I Orientation/ Introduction to Coronal Polishing, manikin techniques. 8

Week II Written and clinical examination on Coronal Polishing; 4 live patients 4

COURSE SYLLABUS

Pit and Fissure Sealant Certification Course: Total 16 Hour Course

WEEK  SUBJECT CLOCK HOURS

Week I Introduction to Pit and Fissure Sealant 4

Week II Clinical tech. for placement of pit and fissure sealants on manikin 8

Week III Written and clinical exam. on Pit and Fissure Sealants; 4 live patients 4

COURSE SYLLABUS

CA Practice Act: Total 2 Hour Course

WEEK SUBJECT CLOCK HOURS

Week I CA Practice Act Course     2

COURSE SYLLABUS 

Advanced Dental Assisting Curriculum: Total 160 Hours

Course  Outline/Syllabus

Title: Advanced Dental Assisting Curriculum

Statement of Educational Objectives:

Advanced Dental Assisting program prepares students for a job as a Registered Dental Assistant. Upon completion of the 30-hours certification curriculum and 15 months verifiable work experience, graduates may be eligible to take the CA Registered Dental Assistant State Exam. Graduates will receive CA Dental Board Approved Coronal Polishing Certification, CA Dental Board Approved Pit and Fissure Sealants Certification, and CA Dental Board Approved CA Practice Act. After the first 30 hours of successful completion of the program, students will then be trained under the direct supervision of the instructing dentist doing the following procedures: cleaning and setting up patient’s room, practicing infection control protocols, performing Coronal Polishing on actual patients and assisting the instructor on Pit and Fissure Sealants during the following 130 hours of the program. 

Length of Educational Program:

11-Week Program

160 Hours Total

Sequence and Frequency of Lessons:

The 11-week curriculum includes 12 hours of California Dental Board Approved Coronal Polishing Course, 16 hours of California Dental Board Approved Pit and Fissure Sealant Course, and 2 hours of California Dental Board Approved California Dental Practice Act Course. After successful completion of the first 30 hours of the program, students will then be training under the direct supervision of the instructing dentist for 130 hours for a total of 160 hours. During the 11- week curriculum, the student is required to attend Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first 5 weeks, then Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for the following 6 weeks. Weeks 1 – 4, the course hours are 9am-1pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, and weeks 5-11, the course hours are 9am-2pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.

Complete Citations of Textbooks and Other Required Written Materials:

Radiation Safety: Infection Control/Emergency Protocols Manual © 2010, CADAT, Inc.: Infection Control: Asepsis Protocols and Procedures Manual, Emergency Procedures and Safety Protocols: Standard Operating Procedures Guide

Kassabian, A.DMD, General Dental Terminology, 2012, Class Handout

Kassabian, A.DMD, Coronal Polishing, 2012, Class Handout

Kassabian, A.DMD, Pit and Fissure Sealants, 2014, Class Handout

Kassabian, A. DMD, CA Practice Act, 2014, Class Handout

Instructional Mode or Methods:

In-Person Instructions

Detailed Outline:

Detailed Outline of Advanced Dental Assisting Curriculum which includes 12-hour Coronal Polishing Certificate Course, 16-hour Pit and Fissure Certificate Course, 2-hour CA Practice Act Course and 130 hours of hand-on training on live patients under the direct supervision of the Instructing Dentist, and skills to be learned and how those skills are to be measured:

In California, a Dental Board-approved 12-hour coronal polishing certificate course consists of three mandatory parts: 4 hours of didactic instruction, 4 hours of pre-clinical laboratory training, and 4 hours of clinical patient experience. 

The curriculum, required skills, and assessment metrics for the course include the following:

1. Didactic Subject Matter (4 Hours) 

• Legal       & Ethical Guidelines: California Dental Practice Act, scope       of practice limits, and direct supervision rules. 
• Dental       Anatomy & Histology: Tooth numbering, crown structures,       enamel morphology, cementum, and dentin. 
• Plaque       & Stain Classification: Properties of dental plaque,       calculus formation, and the causes and classification of intrinsic and       extrinsic tooth stains. 
• Disease       Transmission & Infection Control: OSHA guidelines, disease       transmission, and PPE requirements. 
• Pathology       & Safety: Characteristics of healthy vs. diseased gingival       tissue, indications, contraindications, and potential risks (e.g., pulp       damage, heat generation). 

2. Laboratory Skills to be Learned (4 Hours) 

• Armamentarium       Setup: Selecting correct polishing agents, prophy angles,       brushes, and rubber cups.
• Ergonomics: Proper       operator and patient positioning for different arches.
• Instrument       Handling: Developing handpiece grasp, speed control, and correct       intraoral fulcrum (finger rest) techniques.
• Simulation       Practice: Performing the lifting-wiping stroke and proximal       flossing on typodonts/manikins to avoid gingival tissue damage. 

3. Clinical Skills to be Learned (4 Hours) 

• Patient       Management: Explaining the procedure, assessing medical history,       and managing medically compromised patients.
• Live       Performance: Maneuvering mouth mirrors, air/water syringes, and       suction simultaneously during actual polishing.
• Full-Mouth       Polishing: Executing selective and full-mouth coronal polishing       techniques on live subjects. 

How Skills are Measured and Assessed

• Written       Examination: Students must pass a written theoretical exam       (typically requiring a score of 75% or higher) before advancing to       clinical training.
• Pre-Clinical       Evaluation: Instructors directly observe laboratory performance       on typodonts to ensure correct finger rests, stroke control, and       equipment manipulation.
• Clinical       Practicum & Evaluation Sheets: Students must perform the       procedure on 3 to 4 live patients (who are typically       calculus-free and 18+ years old). Instructors use objective evaluation       sheets to grade the student on:
  • Proper        use of PPE
  • Correct        patient and operator positioning
  • Maintained        intraoral fulcrum and controlled speed
  • Adaptation        of the cup without tissue damage (maximum allowable errors)
  • Proper        flossing and final post-operative evaluation
    
     

Pit and Fissure Sealant

To legally place pit and fissure sealants in California, Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs) or qualifying dental assistants must complete a 16-hour, Dental Board of California (DBC)-approved course. The curriculum is strictly regulated and sequentially broken down into didactic, laboratory, and clinical components. 

1. Didactic Training (Minimum 4 hours) 

Delivered via online modules, home study, or live lecture. 

• Dental       Sciences: Overview of oral anatomy, histology, physiology, and       pathology.
• Tooth       Morphology: Normal and abnormal anatomical descriptions of pits,       fissures, and grooves.
• Sealant       Basics: Legal requirements, preventive goals, patient selection       factors, and contraindications.
• Sealant       Materials: Composition, polymerization types (light-cure vs.       chemical-cure), storage, handling, and armamentarium needed.
• Infection       Control & Safety: Cross-contamination protocols and hazard       management. 

2. Laboratory Instruction (Minimum 4 hours)

Hands-on simulation performed on mannequins, study models, or extracted teeth. 

• Armamentaria       Setup: Organizing materials, etchants, curing lights, and       isolation tools.
• Isolation       Techniques: Practicing cotton roll isolation and dry-field       maintenance.
• Tooth       Preparation: Cleaning debris from pits/fissures prior to       etching.
• Acid       Etching & Bonding: Applying, timing, rinsing, and drying the       etched surface.
• Sealant       Application: Flow and manipulation of sealant material without       causing over-extension or high spots.  

3. Clinical Instruction (Minimum 8 hours)

Supervised application on live patients. 

• Patient       Sourcing: Students must provide a minimum of four live patients.       Patients must have at least one un-restored, decay-free       ("virgin") posterior tooth (molar or premolar) in each       quadrant.
• Live       Application: Students place pit and fissure sealants on a total       of 16 virgin teeth across the 4 patients (4 teeth per patient). 

4. Skill Measurement & Evaluation

To successfully pass the course and receive the DBC certificate, students must meet the following criteria:  

• Written       Examination: Passing score of 75% to verify didactic knowledge.
• Laboratory       Competency: Satisfactory evaluation by an instructor on       mannequin practice before advancing to live patients.
• Clinical       Finals: Two of the four live patients are designated as final       clinical exams. Instructors evaluate criteria such as moisture control,       etchant appearance, complete fissure coverage, absence of voids, proper       occlusion/bite articulation, and proper infection control protocols.  

Requirements to Enroll in the Course

Before registering, students must provide proof of:

• An       active RDA License or application status.
• A       current BLS/CPR card (American Heart Association or       American Red Cross).
• Completion       of a Board-approved 8-hour Infection Control Course.
• Completion       of a Board-approved Coronal Polishing Course.

CA Practice Act

A 2-hour California Practice Act course—often required for professionals like dentists, dental auxiliaries, and physical therapists—ensures compliance with state laws, licensing rules, and professional ethics. Courses generally use a sequential, standard outline and knowledge checks to measure learning.  

Detailed Course Outline

The sequential breakdown of subject matter typically spans two instructional hours (120 minutes) and is divided into the following key modules:

Module 1: Governing Bodies & Legal Foundations (20 minutes)

• The       legislative framework of the relevant regulatory board (e.g., Dental       Board of California or Physical Therapy Board of California).
• Differentiation       between statutes (the Practice Act) and board regulations/rules.  

Module 2: Scope of Practice & Professional Utilization (40 minutes)

• Legally       authorized duties, boundaries, and procedures.
• Supervision       levels: Direct vs. indirect supervision requirements and delegable duties       for supportive personnel (e.g., Physical Therapist Assistants or Dental       Auxiliaries).
• Multi-disciplinary       care protocols, standardized procedures, and professional record-keeping.       

Module 3: Licensure, Enforcement & Disciplinary Actions (25 minutes)

• Initial       licensure, mandatory continuing education (CE), and license renewal       processes.
• Unprofessional       conduct: Acts that violate the Practice Act (e.g., gross negligence,       fraudulent advertising).
• The       board's disciplinary process, including citations, fines, probation,       license suspension, or revocation. 

Module 4: Ethics & Jurisprudence (25 minutes)

• Governing       ethical codes of the profession (e.g., APTA Code of Ethics or Dental Code       of Ethics).
• Applying       ethical decision-making frameworks to real-world workplace dilemmas.
• Patient       rights, informed consent, and Health Insurance Portability and       Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.  

Module 5: Mandatory Reporting & Public Protection (10 minutes)

• Legal       obligations as a mandated reporter (e.g., child abuse, elder abuse,       dependent adult abuse).
• Protocols       and timelines for reporting incidents to appropriate state agencies. 

Skills to be Learned

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

• Interpret       State Statutes: Locate, summarize, and comply with       state-specific Practice Act statutes and ongoing board regulations.
• Maintain       Boundaries: Navigate the exact clinical scope of practice and       implement ethical decision-making models when conflicts arise.
• Safeguard       Patients: Fulfill mandatory reporting requirements and uphold       patient privacy and consent standards.  

How Skills are Measured

• Formative       Knowledge Checks: Short, interactive quizzes embedded throughout       the coursework assess comprehension of specific legal thresholds.  
• Summative       Final Examination: A timed multiple-choice or true/false final       assessment at the conclusion of the course.  
• Passing       Threshold: Participants required to answer at least 75% of the       exam questions correctly. 

Dental Assisting Curriculum: Total 160 Hours

Course Outline/Syllabus

Title: Dental Assisting Curriculum 

Statement of Educational Objective:

This program prepares students for entry-level positions as a dental assistant in a dental office. Graduates will be able to practice correct infection control protocols, clean and prepare patient’s rooms, sterilize dental instruments and take intra-oral radiographs on patients.

Length of Educational Program:

11-Week Program

160 Hours Total

Sequence and Frequency of Lessons:

This 11-week curriculum includes 8 hours of California Dental Board Approved Infection Control Course and 32 hours of California Dental Board Approved Radiation Safety Course. After successful completion of the first 40 hours of the program, students will then be training under the direct supervision of the instructing dentist doing the following procedures: Introduction to digital radiographs, taking full mouth intra-oral radiographs on patients, preparing patient rooms, sterilizing and packing instruments and practicing infection control protocols in a dental office. Upon completion of the program, the graduates will have sufficient experience as a dental assistant taking digital and film radiographs and practicing infection control protocols. 

During the 11 week curriculum, the student is required to attend Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first 5 weeks, then Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for the following 6 weeks. Weeks 1 – 5, the course hours are 9am-1pm and weeks 6-11, the course hours are 9am-2pm. 

Complete Citations of Textbooks and Other Required Written Materials:

Radiation Safety: Infection Control/Emergency Protocols Manual © 2010, CADAT, Inc.: Infection Control: Asepsis Protocols and Procedures Manual, Emergency Procedures and Safety Protocols: Standard Operating Procedures Guide

Kassabian, A.DMD, Infection Control, General Dental Terminology, 2012, Class Handout

Kassabian, A.DMD, Radiation Safety, 2011, Class Handout 

Instructional Mode or Methods:

In-Person Instructions

Detailed Outline:

Detailed Outline of Dental Assisting Curriculum which includes 8- hour Infection Control Certificate Course, 32-hour Radiation Safety Course and 120 hours of hand-on training on live patients under the direct supervision of the Instructing Dentist, and skills to be learned and how those skills are to be measured: 

California’s mandatory 8-hour Infection Control Certificate Course for unlicensed dental assistants consists of at least 5 hours of didactic instruction, 2 hours of laboratory/preclinical training, and 2 hours of clinical practice. The sequential outline of subject matter and measurement methods are as follows: 

Didactic Instruction (Module 1)

Focus: Theory, regulations, and safety concepts.

• Microbiology      & Disease Transmission: Characteristics of microorganisms,      the infectious disease process, blood-borne pathogens (HBV, HCV, HIV), and      modes of disease transmission.  
• California      & Federal Regulations: Understanding Cal/OSHA blood-borne      pathogen standards and the Dental      Board of California's minimum standards.  
• Immunization      & Exposure Protocols: Vaccine recommendations and      post-exposure management. 
• Personal      Protective Equipment (PPE): Types, uses, donning/doffing      procedures, and limitations of barriers.  
• Sterilization      & Hazardous Waste: Handling soiled instruments, using      chemical indicators, biological monitoring, and biohazard waste disposal. 

Laboratory & Clinical Training (Modules 2 & 3)

Focus: Hands-on, practical execution of theory. 

• Hand      Hygiene: Proper washing, sanitizing, and maintenance of hand      health.
• PPE      Mastery: Correctly putting on (donning) and removing (doffing)      isolation gowns, masks, face shields, and gloves without      cross-contamination.  
• Aseptic      Techniques & Barrier Placement: Applying impervious barriers      to clinical surfaces, treatment rooms, and equipment (e.g., air/water      syringes, handles). 
• Instrument      Processing: Handling contaminated instruments, sorting,      packaging, utilizing sterilizers (autoclaves), and storing sterile packs. 
• Dental      Unit Water & Sharps: Managing dental waterlines and executing      safe sharps handling procedures.  

How Skills are Measured

To receive the Dental Board of California approved certificate, students must pass the following evaluations: 

1. Didactic      Written Examination: A multiple-choice or short-answer exam to      measure theoretical knowledge, usually requiring a score of 70% to 80% or      higher.
2. Preclinical      & Clinical Skills Testing: Live, in-person, hands-on      demonstration where instructors use a pass/no-pass checklist.      Students must successfully perform tasks like donning PPE in the correct      order, packaging instruments for the autoclave, and breaking down a mock      treatment room without contaminating clean surfaces.
3. Evaluation      Form: A signed attestation confirming the student has developed      minimum competency in all duties.

Radiation Safety

A California Dental Board-approved 32-hour Radiation Safety Certificate Course requires an 8-hour didactic,12-hour laboratory, and 12-hour clinical instruction split. It trains dental assistants to safely expose, process, and mount diagnostic radiographs. Hands-on experience includes full-mouth series (FMX) and bitewings.  

Sequential Course Outline & Skills to be Learned 

The 32-hour curriculum mandated by the California Code of Regulations is structured sequentially across three learning phases:  

Phase 1: Didactic/Lecture (8 Hours)  

Delivered online (self-study) or in the classroom, teaching foundational theory. 

• Radiation      Physics & Biology: Understand ionizing radiation properties,      X-ray tube physics, and biological effects on living tissues.
• Radiation      Protection & Safety: Master the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably      Achievable) principles: time, distance, and shielding.
• Anatomical      Landmarks: Recognize normal anatomical landmarks and abnormal      conditions on both intraoral and extraoral radiographs.
• Equipment      & Armamentaria: Identify X-ray machine components, digital      sensors, traditional film, and positioning devices (e.g., Rinn XCPs).  

Phase 2: Laboratory Instruction (12) Hours

Hands-on practice utilizing DXTTR or Dexter radiographic mannequins (Typodonts). 

• Sensor/Film      Placement: Correctly position image receptors using parallel,      bisecting, and bitewing techniques.
• Exposure      Control: Adjust X-ray parameters (kVp, mA, exposure time) for      different patient types and areas of the mouth.
• Processing      & Mounting: Practice manual or automatic processing, as well      as mounting and sequencing traditional and computerized digital      radiographs (e.g., DEXIS).
• Error      Correction: Identify faulty radiographs (e.g., elongation,      cone-cutting, overlap) and apply correction methods.  

Phase 3: Clinical Instruction (12 Hours)

Execution on human subjects under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. 

• Live      Patient Exposure: Complete a minimum of four FMX sets (minimum 18      radiographs per series, including bitewings) or the equivalent in bitewing      series.
• Patient      Management: Develop communication skills to explain procedures,      manage patient concerns, and ensure comfort.

Skill Measurement & Evaluation Criteria

To receive the certification, students must demonstrate minimum competency via three strict evaluation metrics:  

1. Written      Examinations: Students must pass a comprehensive written test      (covering didactic materials) with a minimum score of 75% 
2. Practical/Laboratory      Examinations: Instructors evaluate mannequins and clinical image      quality. Students must successfully produce diagnostic-quality X-rays with      no more than 3 errors allowed per patient/manikin series.  
3. Clinical      Examinations: The final requirement is graded during the clinical      phase. The student must successfully expose, process, and mount      diagnostic-quality radiographs on a live patient (or a classmate,      depending on the school) while meeting all Dental Board parameters.  

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