Dental Assisting Program Goals and Competencies

The UNC Dental Assisting Program prepares students to provide patient care in a variety of clinical settings and to be active members of the dental health team. In order to successfully complete the dental assisting program, the dental assisting graduate must be able to:

1. Chart existing conditions and treatment needed
2. Record services rendered in the patient's chart
3. Review the patient's medical history prior to treatment
4. Prepare the operatory for patient treatment in compliance with accepted infection control standards
5. Maintain asepsis during patient treatment
6. Assist during the administration of local anesthetic and/or conscious sedation
7. Maintain the field of operation (air, water, evacuation, light) during treatment
8. Transfer instruments safely and efficiently
9. Demonstrate understanding of procedures and sequencing
10. Manipulate a variety of dental materials for restorative procedures
11. Anticipate the operator's needs
12. Provide post-op instructions to patients

1. Clean/polish removable appliances
2. Pour/trim study models
3. Sterilize instruments and prepare tray set-ups
4. Maintain inventory control
5. Assist in the management of medical emergencies
6. Take accurate vital signs
7. Provide oral health instructions to patients
8. Prepare laboratory cases/prescriptions for transport
9. Fabricate custom trays for impression, bleaching, protection
10. Clean and maintain operatory/laboratory equipment
11. Utilize personal protective equipment appropriately
12. Expose, process and evaluate diagnostically acceptable intraoral radiographs
13. Expose, process and evaluate diagnostically acceptable extraoral radiographs
14. Comply with accepted radiation safety precautions for operator and patient
15. Maintain darkroom and/or automatic processing equipment
16. Mount, label and file patient radiographs

1. Place topical anesthetic
2. Apply topical fluoride
3. Apply bases and desensitizing agents
4. Apply Etchant and bonding agents
5. Place and remove posterior matrices
6. Remove excess cement
7. Place and remove temporary restorations
8. Fabricate temporary crowns/bridges
9. Take preliminary alginate impressions
10. Remove sutures
11. Place gingival retraction cord
12. Apply pit and fissure sealant
13. Polish coronal tooth surfaces
14. Place and remove rubber dam

1. Utilize a computer for word processing and related dental applications
2. Make patient appointments
3. Maintain accounts receivable
4. Maintain accounts payable
5. Process insurance claims
6. Prepare routine office correspondence
7. File and retrieve patient charts
8. Maintain a recall system

1. Show respect for each member of the dental health team
2. Accept responsibility and show initiative
3. Exhibit enthusiasm
4. Establish rapport with patients
5. Use acceptable grammar and speech
6. Recognize and attend to patients' special needs
7. Maintains confidentiality

Last modified: 03/19/2003 at 11:01:27