Students will learn how to prepare a room between patients as well as sterilize instruments after a procedure. They will learn how to disinfect equipment, which items must be discarded and how to run the Autoclave for sterilizing instruments.

Students will learn how to take a legible X-ray for the dentist to diagnose decay. A dummy head provides practice. Students learn how X-ray machines work, use digital sensors to take X-rays, and adequately protect the patient and themselves from radiation exposure.

Students learn how to assist the dentist during dental procedures. They know how to use high- and low-speed suction, rinse and dry the tooth being worked on, properly passing instruments and other skills expected from a Dental Assistant.

Students will learn what is expected and abnormal in the human oral cavity, features of the normal oral cavity, including how many teeth, their features, including salivary glands, tongue, cheeks and other features. They will also learn about irregularities in the oral cavity.

Students learn how diseases are passed from one person to another and ways to prevent passing germs from patient to patient and what to do to protect themselves from contracting contagious diseases in a dental office.

Most dental offices use computers for charting and note-taking. Students will learn about the most common software dental offices use and learn the basics of the two most common software, Dentrix and Eaglesoft.

Students learn the proper ways to brush, floss and prevent periodontal disease. They also learn how diet affects dental health.

Students learn how to make several different types of impressions. Including impressions for bleaching trays, crowns, temporary crowns and bridges and permanent crowns and bridges.

Students learn how to make temporary crowns and bridges to continue working with the patient independently once the dentist has completed preparing the tooth. They learn how to make a crown or bridge from impressions.

Learn the proper selection for choosing the correct impression trays for bleaching tray impressions. They also learn how to pour a model for a bleaching tray, make the actual tray, fit the tray to the patient and adjust the tray for a better fit.

Students learn what to do in some of the most common medical emergencies and how to handle them. Some of these include fainting, seizures, diabetic insulin shock, obstructed airway and stroke. Students learn CPR from a qualified instructor and receive their CPR certification.

Students learn about OSHA, how to protect themselves on the job, the roles and responsibilities of the CDC, medical waste management and personal protective equipment.

Learn the laws in Georgia as it pertains to Dental Assistants.

Students will learn about the many different materials used in dental offices, such as cements, different types of impression materials, materials for crowns and bridges, bonding agents, composite materials, sealants and etchants.

Learn to assist during a root canal procedure, including setting up for the process and how to take an X-ray on a tooth having a root canal.

Learn the procedure and set-up for doing composite fillings. Students will learn which instruments are needed and the order in which they are used.

Learn what constitutes an emergency visit in the dental office, how frequently they occur and what procedures are first done once the patient arrives.

Learn how to put together a professional resume, dress on interviews, questions to expect and what to expect on a working interview.

During the externship, students will have the opportunity to practice their skills during their training. Students work in dental offices on actual patients assisting with procedures they have learned.