DENT 203: Dental Practice Experience

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Spring 2026
Credits: 6
Total Contact Hours: 309
Lecture Hours : 9
Lab Hours: 300
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 18
Total Student Learning Hours: 327
Prerequisite: DENT 102, DENT 122, DENT 201 and DENT 202 (or concurrent enrollment).
Transferable to CSU: No
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

This course provides the student with the opportunity for application and performance of acquired knowledge and skills while assuming the role of a chairside assistant in a dental school setting or private dental office. This course may be taken two times. Offered for Pass/No Pass grading only. All hours are mandatory, any hours missed must be made up according to the program accreditation standards. 9 lecture hours, 300 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • apply knowledge learned in the formal academic program to the work environment
  • perform in a professional and competent manner those traditional and expanded chairside duties legally delegated to the dental assistant and the registered dental assistant
  • assume increasing responsibility with less supervision and instruction required
  • expose and process all dental radiographs with little supervision
  • demonstrate the ability to be part of the dental team in terms of communication, initiative, and productivity
  • communicate effectively with the dental patient
  • Self- Evaluate skill performance

Major Course Content

See lab content.

Lab Content

  1. Orientation
    1. Review chairside techniques and skills
    2. Guidelines and policies for professional conduct
    3. Course requirements
  2. General Dental Practice
    1. Orientation to office policies
    2. Patient management
      1. answering telephone
      2. seating a patient
      3. professional conduct
      4. terminology
    3. Sterilization and disinfection
    4. Chairside procedures
    5. General office procedures
    6. Front office procedures
    7. Radiographs
      1. exposing
      2. Technique evaluation
  3. Specialty Dental Practice
    1. Orientation to office policies
    2. Patient management in pertaining to specialty patients
      1. oral maxillofacial surgery
      2. orthodontic practice
      3. pediatric practice
      4. periodontic practice
      5. geriatric practice
      6. compromised patients
    3. General office policies
    4. Chairside assisting techniques for specialty dentistry
      1. oral maxillofacial surgery
      2. orthodontic
      3. pediatric
      4. periodontic
    5. Radiographs
      1. exposing
      2. Technique evaluation

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

As needed.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write weekly reports describing assisting activities Write evaluation of skill development Write patient treatment notes on a procedure observed or assisted with in their clinical site.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time: Practice/review skills Write weekly reports describing assisting activities Write evaluation of skill development

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture, Online Education Lab, Online Education Lecture