Dental Assistant Training - Expanded Duties/Coronal Polishing

COURSE 4: CURRICULUM

A) Alginate Impressions for Denture Repair

B) Face Bow Registration

C) Tissue Management During Impression Making

D) Temporary Bridge

E) Fabrication of Bruxism Appliances

An assistant must also pass a written test on the subjects listed above.

To successfully complete the clinical portion of this course, each participant will complete the following procedure:

1) Temporary bridge - each participant will successfully fabricate a three-unit temporary bridge as per Temporary Bridge (found at the beginning of that section in the study guide)

COURSE 4 SUPPLIES 

For the clinical portion the student will provide:

• THREE TEMPORIES that you have made in your office prior to the course, as well as the models on which the temporaries were made. At least one of the temporaries will be a three-unit bridge or larger.

For fabricating your temporary bridge you need to bring:

• Putty Impression material for making a matrix on the GDA model
• Acrylic (your choice- bring what you are familiar with) Burs, stones, separating disks that you prefer to use for trimming. Please no dull burs!
• High speed or slow speed handpiece and motor
• Articulating paper to check occlusion.
• Any materials, supplies, or instruments that you require for the successful completion of a temporary bridge.

COURSE 5: Armamenteria

A) Periodontal Dressing

B) In-Office Bleaching

C) Dentin Bonding

D) Desensitization

E) Liners and Bases

There is no clinical or portion of this class at this time. An assistant must pass a written test on the subjects listed.

COURSE 5 ARMAMENTERIA

To successfully complete this course and receive the certificate that allows you to legally perform these expanded functions in Georgia, you must pass the written test. There is no clinical or ; portion at this time. To pass the written test, you need to have reviewed all of the written material and discussed it with your doctor before attending the course. S/He signed an affidavit when registering you for your course(s) stating that s/he would help you in preparation for this course. Failure of this test will result in the applicant having to repeat the entire course at a later date with an additional fee.

COURSE 6*: Curriculum

A) Monitor Nitrous Oxide

B) Fluoride Application

C) Sealants

D) Dry Socket Redressing

To successfully complete the clinical portion of this course, each assistant must successfully perform and receive a fluoride treatment with another person in the class, and place sealants on a minimum of three posterior teeth. An assistant must also pass a written test on the subjects listed above.

COURSE 6

To successfully complete the clinical portion of this course, each participant will complete the following procedures:

1) Perform and receive a fluoride treatment with a partner from the class. A tray fluoride treatment is four (4) minutes in length. Fluoride varnish is also acceptable.

2) Place sealants on a minimum of three posterior teeth.

COURSE 6 SUPPLIES

For the clinical portion the student will provide:

1) Any disposables that you need: patient napkins, cotton rolls, gauze, as well as patient napkin and any instruments you require to complete the task

2) Fluoride treatment & your choice of fluoride varnish

3) Sealant placement & three (3) molars with no fillings and little or no decay that are mounted in stone for ease in handling and placing of the sealants

4) Sealant material of your choice

5) Explorer to check sealant margins

Course Overview 

This program offers 8 hours of clinical and didactic education required by the Georgia Board of Dentistry for certification in coronal polishing for dental assistants. This course will include: 

• Oral anatomy
• Tooth morphology
• Indications, contraindications, risks and complications for coronal polishing
• Ethics and jurisprudence relating to coronal polishing
• Indications for professionally applied topical fluoride agents for caries prevention
• Fluoride delivery methods

 The laboratory and clinical activity will include:

• Training in using a slow-speed hand piece
• Principles of coronal polishing
• Operator & patient positioning/ergonomics
• Polishing coronal surfaces of teeth, preferred polishing technique, polishing agents
• Coronal polish on typodonts
• Coronal polish on partner and practical with disclosing solution

Objectives

• State the effect polishing has on the patient, oral environment, teeth, and gingival tissues
• Identify indications for polishing the teeth
• Understand the definition of plaque, types of stain, calculus, and related terminology Discuss contraindications for polishing the teeth
• Distinguish between abrasion, abrasive, and polishing
• Understand dental armamentarium - the equipment and instruments used in the delivery of dental care
• Identify abrasive polishing agents commonly used in coronal polishing
• Determine how particle size/shape, speed, and pressure affect abrasiveness
• Recognize different abrasive agents
• Demonstrate use of a slow speed hand piece and prophylaxis angle on a partner in clinic
• Define cumulative trauma disorders and explain how the dental assistant might prevent such injuries