Dental Assisting Diploma Courses

An introduction to the principles of human anatomy and physiology beginning with the cellular/biochemical level of organization and progressing through a comprehensive study of organ systems emphasizing homeostasis. This is a one-term transfer level class designed for students entering allied health fields or biological sciences. Each student must enroll for one laboratory section.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

This course introduces students to dentistry, certification, dental terminology, and legal and ethical aspects of dental practice. Concepts and procedures of preventive dentistry and oral health education are also included.

Lecture Hours: 32

This course presents oral and dental structures, head and neck anatomy, oral embryology and histology, and the relationship of oral and dental anatomy to dental procedures and treatment. Also included is a study of basic microbiology, disease transmission and the relationship of disease processes.

Lecture Hours: 48 Lab Hours: 32

This course covers the principles, properties, techniques and protective procedures involved with exposure of dental radiographs. Primary emphasis is on the development of skill proficiency in techniques of intraoral and extraoral dental radiography.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course provides information related to various dental materials, their composition, classification, manipulation, preparation and usage. Emphasis is given to materials commonly used in the practice of general dentistry.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 32

This course is a study of basic operative and chairside assisting procedures; dental equipment, its function and maintenance; dental armamentarium, instrumentation, procedural tray setups, charting, development of clinical records, and patient screening procedures.

Lecture Hours: 32 Lab Hours: 64

This course provides students with basic understanding of biomedical and dental sciences including: oral pathology and disease processes, pharmacology and therapeutics, emergency treatment, nutrition and dietary considerations for dental patients.

Lecture Hours: 16

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in DEA-103, or BIO-163, or both BIO-168 and BIO-173

This course is a study of restorative materials; specifically gold, porcelain, denture resin, and other metals and their usage in dentistry. Additional laboratory procedures commonly performed in dental offices are also included.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in DEA-412.

This course presents instruction in additional chairside assisting procedures including intraoral functions that are legally delegable to dental assistants in Iowa. All procedures are taught to the level of laboratory competence, and some procedures are taught to clinical competency levels.

A study of patient behavior and considerations for special patients is also included.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in DEA-513.

This course provides students with selected clinical experiences in those basic chairside dental assisting procedures commonly performed in a general dental office. Facilities used will be primarily the school dental clinic and private dental offices. Students will assist dentists in accomplishing necessary dental procedures for patients while rotating through the clinical areas to obtain maximum clinical exposures and experiences. All clinical procedures are performed with supervision of participating dentists and instructors.

Clinic Hours: 192

This course provides students with knowledge and understanding of dental procedures in the specialties of Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics and Periodontics. Students are introduced to assisting responsibilities, instrumentation, and procedures of each of these specialties. Dental Public Health and Oral Pathology, as dental specialties, will also be included.

Lecture Hours: 16 Lab Hours: 32

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in DEA-513.

This course is a study of basic responsibilities of dental office receptionists. Procedures included in the course are: management of patient records, filing, completion of insurance claim forms, basic bookkeeping, banking, appointment control, recall management, inventory control, credit and collection, and employer records management. Instruction is provided in computer applications relating to these office management procedures. Also included in this course is a study of office design and office management concepts.

Lecture Hours: 16

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in BIO-163 or both BIO-168 and BIO-173.

Composition I emphasizes fluency, thesis-driven organization, the use of supporting details, and research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies, drafting, revising, and editing. The course helps students shape writing to serve readers' needs and define a sense of purpose in their writing. It also gives students strategies for reading college-level material.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement score or equivalent.

This course introduces students to the oral communication process and how it affects human interaction There will be an emphasis on developing interpersonal, small group, and public speaking skills. Students will be involved in activities that provide opportunity for the understanding and improvement of their oral communication skills.

Lecture Hours: 48

Application of knowledge and skill as students rotate through dental offices. General and specialty practices are included in rotations.

Co-op Hours: 320

Discussion and problem-solving from clinical practice. Provides an awareness of types of office situations and discussion of clinical aspects of dental assisting and dentistry. Oral reports and weekly evaluations are required.

Lecture Hours: 16

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in DEA-262, DEA-417, DEA-514, DEA-556, DEA-603, and DEA-701

Co-requisite(s): DEA-578

Human Relations is the study of self and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and application of social science theories and research for the development of effective interpersonal and organizational relationships.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course provides an introduction to the study of behavior and mental processes with emphasis in such areas as learning, cognition, motivation, personality, behavioral disorder, therapy, and social influence. An understanding of the impact of both theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence on the formulation of the science of human behavior is also stressed. Psychological theories and principles are utilized to explain and predict behavior.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field.

Lecture Hours: 48