DENA 1700 - Introduction of Dental Assisting Internships

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 2 Lab 2
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the business aspect of dental practice, MN Dental Practice Act, and completion of professional development activities. Topics include preparation for employment, legal and ethical standards, and the role of the dental assistant in community dental health. Students review their program coursework to prepare for their clinical internships. Students complete service learning hours at various allocated clinical sites. Students must be able to perform physical tasks to complete course requirements and pass Department of Human Services background study with no restrictions.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): DENA 1021, DENA 1022, DENA 1031, DENA 1041, and DENA 1042 .
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Concurrently enrolled in DENA 1032, DENA 1061, DENA 1062, and DENA 1063

Major Content

Front office and bookkeeping duties of a dental practice
Management of patient records
Simulated business transactions both written and computerized
Professional development activities
Role of the Minnesota State Board of Dentistry
MN Jurisprudence exam
Job seeking/keeping skills and application, resume, and employment correspondence
Employment interview and dental assisting skills
Service Learning and community health outreach hours
Handling, storage, and disposal of infectious and hazardous waste

Learning Outcomes

manage patient dental records and business transactions.
identify legal and ethical standards in dental assisting and dentistry.
identify legal and ethical standards in dentistry as related to infection control.
safely handle, store, and dipose of hazardous waste.
prepare and take the MN Jurisprudence Exam.
prepare for clinical internships.
communicate effectively in a culturally diverse dentistry setting.
demonstrate professional development through leadership, cooperation, volunteerism and service learning, individual focus and communication.
participate in work readiness activities such as resume building, cover and thank you letter writing, and mock interviews.
complete service learning hours at various clinical sites.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
None
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
None

Courses and Registration