Course Descriptions

DAS 100 - DART Preparation Forum

1 Credit

This course will guide the student upon acceptance and throughout their enrollment in the DART program. Students will work closely with the course instructor to complete learning objectives, plan for the program experiential preceptorship, and prepare for the capstone course. This course also addresses the NYS requirements for Dental Assisting licensure related to oral and written communication and basic behavioral concepts.

DAS 101 - DART Clinical Dental Assisting

4 Credits

This course provides the DART students with the foundational didactic content and clinical/laboratory skills practice to prepare the student for chairside dental assisting practice, to communicate effectively with the dental team and patient, and to perform supportive functions for dental treatment procedures. The student will be required to complete specific skills and procedures determined by the Program and New York State Office of the Professions for dental assisting licensure. An onsite preceptor is required to provide skill practice guidance, evaluation and verification of competency for each required skill and/or legal expanded function.

Co-requisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 102 - DART Infection Control

1 Credit

This course focuses on the scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control. It will provide the student with the core elements on infection control and barrier precautions and to help prepare the student to take the Dental Assisting National Board Infection Control examination.

Corequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 103 - DART Dental Materials

2 Credits

This course for DART students includes a study of the physical and chemical properties, manipulation of and uses for the most commonly used dental materials. A lecture component will present background information about the dental materials and a laboratory component will present the practical application for each material (precepted and competency demonstration and lab practice). A minimum of 25 Clinical Hours required.

Corequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 104 - DART Radiography

2 Credits

The DART student will be introduced to the physics of radiation, radiation hygiene, equipment and materials, film and digital sensor exposure and processing, and oral radiography techniques for the dental assistant. A minimum of 75 Hours of Clinical Dental Radiography is required.

Corequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 105 - DART Specialty Dentistry

2 Credits

This course will focus on the didactic background and skill required for treatment procedures specific to a variety of dental specialty practices. Lecture topics will include dental specialty treatment procedures, instrumentation and armamentarium for specialty treatment, patient education, pre and post- operative instruction, patient management techniques and the role and responsibility of the dental assistant in each specialty practice. Laboratory practice will focus on application of didactic knowledge to the practice of competency skills including expanded functions that support and deliver patient treatment in the dental specialties. A minimum of 150 Hours of Dental Specialty Clinical Experience required.

Corequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 106 - DART Biomedical Sciences

3 Credits

The DART dental assisting student will meet the New York State Department of Education Office of the Professions educational requirements in the content areas of biomedical sciences; body structure and function, basic nutrition, basic dental and oral anatomy, introductory content in oral histology, embryology, pathology, cariology, therapeutics, patient education, and preventive dentistry.
Preparation for the NYS DANB Professional Dental Assisting Examination.

Corequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 107 - DART Completion

2 Credits

This course will include modules that will guide the student through the overall completion of the DART program. Topics will include completion information, clinical hours logs, examination processes, licensure procedures, and additional topics for successful completion of the program and achievement of NYS Licensure and advancement of their professional goals.
Lecture Hours 2, 1000 hours of documented precepted clinical dental assisting experience obtained throughout the program.

Prerequisite(s): DAS 100

DAS 110 - Preclinical Dental Assisting

4 Credits

This course provides foundational didactic content and preclinical/laboratory practice of essential dental assisting skills and chair-side dental assisting functions. Topics include examination and assessment procedures, equipment and materials, instrumentation techniques, treatment procedures and the legal supportive functions/skills performed by a licensed dental assistant during restorative procedures. Preclinical practice will prepare students for clinical externship experiences.

DAS 111 - Dental Radiography for the Dental Assistant

2 Credits

An introduction to radiation, radiation hygiene, equipment and materials, film and digital sensor exposure and processing, and oral radiography techniques for the dental assistant.

Co-requisite(s): DAS 110

DAS 112 - Dental Materials for the Dental Assistant

2 Credits

This course includes a study of the physical and chemical properties, manipulation of and uses for the most commonly used dental materials. A lecture component will present background information about the dental materials used in dentistry and a laboratory component will allow for demonstration and practical application for each material. The course focus is on the use and application of dental materials and procedures for the dental assistant.

DAS 113 - Infection Control for the Dental Assistant

1 Credit

Focuses on the scientifically accepted principles and practices of infection control. This course will provide the dental assisting student with the core elements on infection control and barrier precautions in preparation for licensure and clinical practice.

A C or better is required for transfer into DH01. Auditing is required if course was taken more than three years prior to admission into DH01.

DAS 114 - Biomedical Sciences for Dental Assisting Practice

3 Credits

The student will meet the New York State Department of Education Office of the Professions educational requirements in the content areas of biomedical sciences; body structure and function, basic nutrition, basic dental and oral anatomy, introductory content in oral histology, embryology, pathology, cariology, therapeutics, patient education, and preventive dentistry.

DAS 115 - Orientation to Dental Assisting Clinical Practice

1 Credit

This course will provide orientation activities and didactic coursework to prepare the students for the mandatory clinical externship experience. Coursework will include orientations to clinical externship facilities, review of policies and protocols, clinical observation requirements, HIPAA regulations and compliance and professional clinical practice issues.

Corequisites: Successful completion of DAS 110, DAS 111, DAS 112, DAS 113, DAS 114.

DAS 120 - Clinical Dental Assisting Practice

4 Credits

This course is the clinical phase of the program and will emphasize practical application of clinical dental assisting skills as students rotate through various dental practice facilities. Students will have opportunities to observe procedures, actively practice dental assisting functions and work with dental professionals in general dentistry and specialty practice settings. A conference component provides an opportunity to discuss clinical experiences, introduce advanced and alternative treatment modalities, discuss patient education and patient management issues, learn about medically compromised patients and emergency procedures and discuss ethical, legal and professionalism issues related to dental practice and patient treatment.

Prerequisite(s): C or higher in DAS 110, DAS 111, DAS 112, DAS 113, DAS 114, DAS 115 Corequisite(s): DAS 123

MCC General Education: MCC-VE - Values and Ethics (MVE)

DAS 121 - Dental Assisting Clinical Experience

1 Credit

This course accompanies DAS 117 and includes the clinical experience requirements necessary for completion of the Dental Assistant Rapid Track (DART) program. Students must successfully pass all skill competencies and meet or exceed the specific clinical experiences and hour requirements. This course will provide an opportunity to apply dental assisting skills in a clinical setting. Students will actively participate in and practice dental treatment procedures in both general dentistry and specialty areas. Specific skill competency will include those functions/procedures allowed by the New York State Education Law.

DAS 122 - Advanced Biomedical Sciences for Dental Assisting Practice

2 Credits

This course will focus on didactic content in biomedical sciences to provide the foundational knowledge to assess and adapt to individual patient needs, provide relevant and current patient education, deliver safe and effective patient treatment and understand oral diseases and treatment options. Topics will include: embryology and histology, preventive dentistry, oral pathology, microbiology, nutrition and pharmacology.

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of DAS 110, DEN 111, DEN 112, DEN 113, DEN 211

DAS 123 - Specialty Dentistry for the Dental Assistant

2 Credits

This course will focus on treatment procedures specific to a variety of dental specialty practices. Lecture topics will include dental specialty treatment procedures, instrumentation and armamentarium for specialty treatment, patient education, pre- and post-operative instruction, patient management techniques and the role and responsibility of the dental assistant in each specialty practice. Laboratory practice will focus on practice of competency skills including expanded functions that support and deliver patient treatment in the dental specialties.

Prerequisite(s):C or higher in DAS 110, DAS 111, DAS 112, DAS 113, DAS 114, DAS 115 Co-requisite(s): DAS 120

DAS 227 - Dental Specialties Procedures

2 Credits

This course will focus on treatment procedures specific to a variety of dental specialty practices. Topics will include treatment procedures, instrumentation and armamentarium for treatment, patient education, pre and post- operative instruction, patient management techniques and the role and responsibility of the dental assistant in each specialty practice. Laboratory practice will focus on practice of competency skills including expanded functions that support and deliver patient treatment.

Successful completion of all first semester DAS and DEN courses.

DAS 290 - Independent Study

Variable Credit

See the Department Chairperson.