Dental Assisting (DA Courses)
DA 310 Exploring Career Opportunities
1.0 unit.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass
An exploration of dental health career options. Provides information that enables
students to make informed decisions about future career pathways.
DA 314 Introduction to Bio-Dental Science
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 100 - Writing in Career/Tech Fields ; or ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition: Exposition
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 317 Dental Assisting Theory
7.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 100 - Writing in Career/Tech Fields ; or ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition: Exposition
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 318 Basic Dental Assisting Skills
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 100 - Writing in Career/Tech Fields ; or ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition: Exposition
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 319 DA Administrative Skills
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 100 - Writing in Career/Tech Fields ; or ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition: Exposition
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assistance Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 320 DA Practicum in the Community
1.0 unit.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 325 Clinical Dental Procedures
3.0 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 326 Dental Radiography
4.0 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 327 Dental Screening
0.5 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 328 Pit and Fissure Sealants
1.0 unit.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
Thc course provides theory and clinical applications of resin materials, pit and fissure
sealants, on developing teeth to prevent cavities.
DA 329 Dental Assisting Practicum
4.0 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
This course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of
dental assisting skills.
DA 330 Coronal Polish
1.0 unit.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 332 RDA Law and Ethics
0.5 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
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.
DA 333 Success in Dental Assisting Practice
0.5 units.
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course prepares students for the challenges facing the Registered Dental Assistant
(RDA) in a general practice. It refreshes the fundamentals of practices and provides
opportunities to perform the functions and procedures within the scope of practice.
It is
designed for students who have completed a dental assisting program. It is scheduled
for 5 days.
DA 348 RDA - Success Seminar
0.5 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Successful completion of second semester dental assisting program courses.; Admittance to Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
The course is designed to prepare students for the written components of the State
Board examination. The California State Practice Act will be reviewed.
DA 380 Dental Assisting Skills Lab
0.5 units.
Limitations on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting program
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade Only
This is an open-entry laboratory course designed to provide students with the opportunity
to refine and expand skills learned in the corequisite program. Students may repeat
the course as they progress through the program.