Dental Assisting

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the skills lab and clinical site unsupervised.

• Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
• Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
• Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
• Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
• Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel

Competency course in Chairside for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in Chairside and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern Chairside
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for Chairside
• Perform the core tasks of Chairside to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in Chairside work and correct them
• Document Chairside work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in radiography for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in radiography and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern radiography
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for radiography
• Perform the core tasks of radiography to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in radiography work and correct them
• Document radiography work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in infection control for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in infection control and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern infection control
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for infection control
• Perform the core tasks of infection control to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in infection control work and correct them
• Document infection control work in the clinical log to industry format

Competency course in dental materials for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in dental materials and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.

• Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern dental materials
• Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for dental materials
• Perform the core tasks of dental materials to the standard, within time, without rework
• Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in dental materials work and correct them
• Document dental materials work in the clinical log to industry format

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Dental Assisting: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

• Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
• Execute the job to standard within the estimate
• Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel

Supervised clinical hours at an affiliated facility, meeting the hour and skills requirements of the licensing body for Dental Assisting. Preceptor-evaluated; hours logged for the board.

• Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
• Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
• Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts

Structured preparation for DANB CDA; State Dental Radiology: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

• Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
• Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
• Rehearse the practical exam format to time

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.