Our Curriculum
Coursework for the program is based online and will include synchronous and asynchronous course work. 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
- Instruments 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 employer for the apprenticeship. This clinical site will be the location where observation and hands-on chairside training will occur supplemented by learning online with Pitt School of Dental Medicine.
When online learning is complete, the apprentices will be employed full-time, Monday through Friday, to continue on-the-job training. Some clinical sites require an agreement to work for at least 1-year at the site following successful completion of the apprenticeship program.
During the clinical experience, apprentices 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