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Caries Prevention for Dental Assistants

The course provides participants the opportunity to establish didactic, laboratory, and clinical competency in applying medicaments to control and prevent dental caries.

  1. State the purpose of the CDC’s Recommendations for Using Fluoride to Prevent and Control Dental Caries in the USA.
    1. Summarize the recommendations of the CDC in regards to community water fluoridation.
    2. Explain the rationale for changing terminology related to fluoride from systemic and topical – to pre-eruptive and post-eruptive.
    3. Describe the structure of normal enamel, including mineral and organic components.
    4. Explain how fluoride functions to prevent dental caries.
    5. State how the presence of fluoride in the outer surface of enamel affects where demineralization occurs first.
    6. List 6 different types of fluoride treatment modalities.
    7. Outline the normal metabolism of the fluoride ion in humans.
    8. Define community water fluoridation.
    9. State the optimal fluoride concentration range, in parts per million (ppm), for maximum caries protection with minimal risk of fluorosis.
    10. Discuss the economics of community water fluoridation.
    11. Explain the reasoning for having individuals who drink well water, having their water tested to determine the proper fluoride content.
    12. State the symptoms of fluoride toxicity.

The course provides participants the opportunity to establish didactic, laboratory, and clinical competency in applying medicaments to control and prevent dental caries.

This course does not include required patient care experiences in the dental office. Participants must apply caries preventive medicaments to a minimum of 5 patients in a clinical setting under the direct observation of an Indiana dentist or dental hygienist whose license is in good standing. * Each participant is required to also act as a patient during lab.

Prerequisites: A Dental assistant who graduated from a dental assisting program which the Commission accredits on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association; or (B) a dental assistant who did not graduate from a dental assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association but has been employed in a dental practice as a dental assistant for a minimum of one year. Documentation will be required.

Dental assistants are in high demand around the state - and demand is expected to grow nearly 11% by 2031! Learn more about this occupation at: https://indemandjobs.dwd.in.gov/Occupation/Soc/31-9091.00/