Registered Dental Assistant 

Module #2: Pre-Clinical Dental Sciences

In this course module, students become proficient in dental materials including their physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, corrosive, adhesive, and solubility properties. Students will identify a variety of dental and clinical materials, and will then learn proper manipulation of these materials. Dental laboratory procedures are introduced, such as working with impression materials, plaster and stone pouring, trimming models, fabricating and polishing dental appliances. Students will learn about clinical care delivery, ergonomics, the necessary skills of chairside procedures, instrument transfer, instruments, and dental handpieces and burs. Students will learn how to perform oral evacuation, dental dam application, and assist in operative dentistry. Students will study the dental specialties of the following: preventative dental health, caries prevention, general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, Periodontics, oral surgery, implants, and prosthodontics. Mouth mirror inspection, fluoride, class II temporary restorations, provisional crowns, will be practiced to a proficient level. Students assist in the San Gabriel Valley Foundation Dental Health Clinic.

Module #3: Radiation Safety

Lecture: This course covers the didactic, pre-clinical work on mannequins and clinical instruction on patients as required by the California State Practice Act in regard to radiation safety. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be certified to take x-rays on patients in the dental office.

Clinical: This course provides advanced clinical instruction on the exposure of intraoral and extra oral radiographs. The bisecting angle technique; paralleling technique, panoramic machine; and adjunct dental radiology aids will be utilized. Emphasis in this course is placed upon the student's performance and demonstrated ability to consistently produce diagnostic radiographs.

Module #4: Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealants

In this course, you will learn the correct procedures and skills to successfully place dental sealants and perform coronal polishing on live patients. Topics include and overview on dental occlusal anatomy, infection prevention and control, ethics and professionalism, patient interaction, dental charting, and basic laboratory skills.

Module #5: Clinical Practice

This course module focuses on career development training, and on future success. Students assist the SGV Dental Foundation Clinic which is on site as a hands-on experience for chairside and operatory dentistry for a minimum of 110 hours. Upon successful completion of classroom and SGV clinic training, students will start an internship in a general dental office off site for a minimum of 222 hours. The students will observe in one specialty office for one full day, equal to 8 hours. Internship offices are at an approved facility off site, where an RDAis employed. Students work under the direct supervision of qualified personnel in participating institutions and under general supervision of the school. Interns will be evaluated by supervisory personnel every 40 hours, and will be evaluated by an instructor from the school every 24 hours. Completed evaluation forms will be signed by the dental office and then filed in the students file folders. Students must successfully complete their internship training in order to fulfill requirements for graduation. They will continue to work on becoming efficient in their skills, practicing with a variety of dental procedures as a dental assistant until completion of a minimum of 360 hours total.