Academic Catalogs

Dental Assisting

The goals of the Registered Dental Assisting program is to provide marketable skills in clinical chairside, radiographic and laboratory procedures. Registered Dental assistants perform a broad scope of dental procedures and administrative functions under the supervision of dentists and dental hygienists. The Orange Coast College Registered Dental Assistant program prepares you to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant examination through the Dental Board of California.

Registered Dental assistants may perform the following services:

  • Operate and maintain dental equipment
  • Expose and prepare dental x-rays
  • Administer periodontal dressings
  • Apply topical anesthetics 
  • Place preventative sealants
  • Take tooth impressions
  • Coronal Polish 
  • Maintain Infection Control protocols related to patient care 
  • Assist in all aspects of dental patient care and oral care instruction
  • Schedule patients and maintain dental records
  • Ultrasonic scaling for cement removal

The work may include laboratory and clinical procedures, office duties, patient intake and education. Registered Dental assistants may work in private or group dental practices, general dentistry or dental specialties such as orthodontics, periodontics, children's dentistry, and other specialties. The work schedule can be full-time or part-time, providing flexibility in working hours.

The employment outlook is excellent and is expected to continue growing. In California, there is a severe shortage of qualified Registered Dental Assistants. Opportunities exist in general dentistry or dental specialties, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, children’s dentistry, and other specialties. 
Preventive dentistry has reduced the incidence of oral disease. As a result, the growing older population will retain their teeth longer and will be even more aware of the importance of regular dental care. Dentists will need to employ more dental assistants than ever before to meet the increased demand for dental services.

A career as a Registered Dental Assistant is a pathway to pursue additional certification after obtaining your RDA, including Registered Dental Assistant Expanded Function (RDAEF), Registered Dental Assistant Oral Sedation (RDAOS), and Registered Dental Assistant Orthodontic Assistant (RDAOA). Other areas of interest include Dental Hygiene and Dental School after Registered Dental Assisting clinical experience. 

Department Contact Information

Heather Moreno
hmoreno10@occ.cccd.edu

Dental Assisting Department Website

Credit Courses

DA A1002 Units (36 lecture hours)  
Dental Anatomy  
Prerequisite(s): ALH A111.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Anatomical structures of the head and neck. Emphasis on tooth growth, development, and their surrounding structures. Morphology of permanent and primary teeth. Identification of types of occlusions and related terminology.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A100

DA A1012 Units (27 lecture hours; 27 lab hours)  
Patient Care for Dental Assistants  
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
This course must be taken in the first eight weeks of the fall semester prior to the first clinical rotation and in addition to the other mandatory dental assisting courses. Content includes orientation to the clinical setting including legal and ethical issues, patient care techniques, emergency interventions, dental asepsis and instrument processing, CPR (HCP) level, OSHA blood borne pathogen training, disease transmission and infection prevention, HIPAA training and waste management.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A101

DA A1103 Units (36 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)  
Chairside Techniques 1  
Co-requisite(s): DA A120.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Four handed dentistry. History of the dental profession, Dental Practice Act, law and ethics. Charting, infection control protocols, sterilization procedures, use and maintenance of dental operatory equipment. Laboratory experience includes basic application of operative procedures. Course requires purchase of an appropriate clinical uniform and patient care safety goggles.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A110

DA A1152 Units (28 lecture hours; 42 lab hours)  
Chairside Techniques 2  
Prerequisite(s): DA A110.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
This is a continuation of DA A110 Chairside Techniques 1 with an emphasis on dental specialties, and application of coronal polish for state certification.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A115

DA A1203 Units (27 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)  
Dental Materials  
Co-requisite(s): DA A110.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
A comprehensive study of materials, including composition and characteristics. Emphasis on use of restorative dental materials and gypsum products. Lab exercises include manipulation of materials, taking impressions, pouring casts and trimming models. Construction of acrylic and metal temporaries and bleaching trays.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A120

DA A1252 Units (21 lecture hours; 42 lab hours)  
Expanded Functions  
Prerequisite(s): DA A110 and DA A120.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Emphasis on expanded functions for the registered dental assistant. Laboratory practice and preclinical evaluations. Students will practice mock written testing in preparation for state licensing board examinations. Lecture/Lab.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A125

DA A1301 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Preventive and Community Dentistry  
Co-requisite(s): DA A110.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Discussion of current concepts of preventive dentistry. Etiology of dental disease, nutrition, oral hygiene techniques, and home care are covered in detail. Applied psychology for the dental patient is presented. Includes community dental project.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A130

DA A1403 Units (36 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)  
Dental Radiography 1  
Co-requisite(s): DA A110.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
A study of the principles of x-ray production and physics, biological effects, radiation safety procedures, and monitoring. Film identification, processing and mounting procedures and introduction to the bitewing, bisection, and paralleling techniques and practical application are presented.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A140

DA A1452 Units (21 lecture hours; 45 lab hours)  
Specialized Practices  
Prerequisite(s): DA A140.
Co-requisite(s): DA A165.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
In-depth study of bisecting and paralleling techniques employed in patient intraoral radiographs. Analysis and correction of techniques and processing errors, clinical laboratory experience exposing x-rays on patients utilizing bisecting, and paralleling techniques including film processing and mounting for various radiographic examinations. Pit and Fissure sealant laboratory practice. Preclinical and Clinical performance and evaluations of pit and fissure sealant placement.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A145

DA A1502 Units (36 lecture hours)  
Biomedical Sciences  
Co-requisite(s): DA A125 and DA A165.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Specialized Practice in chairside dental assisting, including microbiology of the oral cavity, oral pathology, and the State Dental Practice Act and regulations.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A150

DA A1601 Unit (8 lecture hours; 64 lab hours)  
Clinical Experience 1  
Co-requisite(s): DA A101, DA A110, DA A120, DA A130 and DA A140.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The first clinical experience in the practice of dental assisting. Each student will be assigned to UCLA School of Dentistry or in dental office. Students are required to follow the dress code standards set up by the program, UCLA School of Dentistry, dental office, and Cal-DOSH mandates. Eight hours weekly for eight weeks with one hour seminar weekly. Offered on a grade basis only.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A160

DA A1631 Unit (64 other hours)  
Clinical Experience 2  
Prerequisite(s): DA A160.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The second in a series of opportunities for clinical practice of concepts in dental assisting. Each student will be assigned to a dental office for either general dentistry or a specialty practice. Students are required to follow the dress code standards set up by the program according to ADA guidelines and OSHA mandates. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only. Sixty-four hours clinical.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A163

DA A1652.5 Units (14 lecture hours; 112 other hours)  
Clinical Experience 3  
Co-requisite(s): DA A115, DA A125, DA A145, and DA A163.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The third in a series of opportunities for clinical practice of concepts in dental assisting. Each student will be assigned to a dental office for either general dentistry or a specialty practice. Students are required to follow the dress code standards set up by the program according to ADA guidelines-and OSHA mandates. Lecture, 112 hours clinical.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A165

DA A1681 Unit (1 lecture hours; 54 other hours)  
Clinical Experience 4  
Prerequisite(s): DA A165 or concurrent enrollment.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The fourth clinical rotation in which the students will be placed in a general dentistry and/or dental specialty setting. Students are required to follow the dress code standards required by the program and OSHA mandates. One hour seminar, thirty-two hours weekly for two weeks.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A168

DA A1751.5 Units (28 lecture hours)  
Principles of Business and Practice Management  
Prerequisite(s): DA A100.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
An introduction to dental office administration, including dental records and charting, HIPAA regulations, communication skills, financial management appointment scheduling, payroll, and insurance claim processing. Students will be trained to use Dentrix Dental Software program to become knowledgeable in all areas of practice management utilizing the computer. This course may also be offered online.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing DA A175