Program Overview

DAS-DENTAL ASSISTING (DAS) Program

The DAS-DENTAL ASSISTING (DAS) program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become dental assistants. The program includes a range of courses that cover topics such as dental anatomy, chair side assisting, dental radiology, and dental office management.

Course Descriptions

• DAS 101: Introduction to Dental Assisting: This course provides an introduction to the duties and responsibilities of a dental assistant, including head and neck anatomy, chair side assisting, sterilization techniques, dental office emergencies, and dental office management.
• DAS 111: Bio-Dental Science: This course covers biomedical and dental sciences, with an emphasis on head and neck anatomy and tooth morphology. Topics include microbiology, general anatomy and physiology, histology and embryology of the oral cavity, pathology, and pharmacology as they relate to dentistry.
• DAS 113: Dental Assisting I: This course introduces students to chair side assisting procedures, instrumentation, infection control, equipment safety and maintenance, dental office emergencies, and management of pain and anxieties.
• DAS 115: Dental Radiology: This course covers radiation physics, hygiene, and safety theories, with an emphasis on the fundamentals of oral radiographic techniques and interpretation of radiographs.
• DAS 117: Dental Materials: This course covers the composition, chemical and physical properties, manipulation, and uses of dental materials, including laboratory experiences.
• DAS 123: Dental Assisting Practicum: This course is the clinical component of the program, combining general practice and experiences in the workplace. Seminar topics focus on practicum experiences and critique of performance.
• DAS 125: Professional Concepts: This course emphasizes the development of professionalism for the dental office, including oral communication, psychology, patient relations, problem-solving skills, stress management, and employability, as well as dental jurisprudence and ethics.
• DAS 127: Dental Office Management: This capstone course introduces business office procedures, including telephone management, appointment control, accounts payable, completion of third-party reimbursement forms, inventory control, data entry for charges and payments, management recall, basic dental computer software, and operating basic business equipment.
• DAS 129: Preventive Dentistry: This course covers the prevention of dental diseases, oral hygiene instruction, fluoride, community dental health, and nutrition, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of a community dental health project.
• DAS 130: Dental Assisting II: This course continues the development of chair side assisting skills and techniques, with a major emphasis on four-handed dentistry, including specialties within dentistry and expanded chair side functions.
• DAS 131: Dental Office Management I: This course introduces the field of dental office management, with an emphasis on professional verbal and written communication skills utilized within the dental office, including dental terminology, charting, and back office experience.
• DAS 133: Dental Office Management II: This course places emphasis on computer programs specifically designed for dental office management, expanded course content on oral communication and telephone skills, appointment scheduling, patient relations, stress management solutions, and comprehensive critical thinking/problem-solving skills.
• DAS 155: Special Topics: This course covers specific subjects announced in the Schedule of Classes, which may be repeated for a maximum of 12 credits.

Program Requirements

• Restricted to: Community Colleges only for DAS 101.
• Corequisite(s) and Prerequisite(s) vary by course, including restrictions to specific campuses (Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Dona Ana) and majors (OEDA).
• Consent of instructor required for DAS 155.

Admission Criteria and Tuition Fees

Not specified in the provided context.

Research Areas

Not applicable for this program, as it focuses on dental assisting skills and knowledge rather than research.