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Our Curriculum
Coursework for the program is based online and will include synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Classes are taught by Pitt School of Dental Medicine faculty and staff. Individualized instruction is available through the supporting team for each apprentice.
Courses in the program include
- Dental Sciences
- Introduction to Dental Radiology
- Anatomy
- Dental Terminology
- Dental Materials
- Chairside Assisting
- Dental Assisting Profession
- Dental Team Members and Specialties
- Ethics
- Online Simulation Lab including:
- Sterilization
- Instrument Identification
- Instrument Transfer
- Step-by-step instruction of multiple dental procedures
- Placement at a clinical site to complete hands-on chair-side assisting experience.
Clinical Site Placement
Based on your preferred location, a clinical site will be matched for hands-on training. This clinical site will be your sponsor during training and your employer after your hybrid training with the Pitt School of Dental Medicine is complete.
When online learning is complete, the trainees will complete a 3-week (112.5 hours) internship at their clinical employer. Some clinical sites require an agreement to work for at least 1-year at the site following successful completion of the training program.
During the internship, trainees will learn:
- Sterilization and disinfection of treatment rooms and equipment
- Clinical chairside procedures using four-handed dentistry
- Radiology, first by observation and once certified, exposing x-rays
- Applying the online learning curriculum to everyday responsibilities of a dental assistant
- Best practices and techniques with assisting in treatment planning and assessments