Dental Assisting

• Description: Introduction to Foothill College Dental Assisting Program for the incoming student. Preview of dental practice, including specialties, history, professional and legal responsibilities and the role of the dental auxiliary; HIPAA, patient privacy, Academic Honor Code, student rights and responsibilities, strategies for student success, stress and time management, record keeping, patient communication and office personnel relations. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week. (12 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Introduction to chairside assisting; use and care of dental equipment, patient management, instrument identification; overview of common dental procedures such as composite, amalgam, partials, dentures, root canals, crown and bridge appointments; manipulation of dental materials commonly prepared or used by the dental assistant including temporary dressings, impression materials, cement bases and liners, topical agents, composites, resins and amalgams. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 6.5 hours lecture per week, 13 hours lab per week. (234 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Introduction to dental radiology. Emphasis on production, characteristics, biologic effects, radiation safety and protection. Introduction to intraoral long-cone radiographic techniques, image capture and scanning. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. (60 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Familiarization with the scope of practice in both general and specialty dental office settings. The emphasis of this survey class will be on the role of the auxiliary personnel in each of the different types of dental practices. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week. (12 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Discussion of anatomy and morphology of the teeth, the eruption sequence and process; normal occlusion, development and class of malocclusions; anatomy of the skull, arteries and veins, musculature and nervous structures of the head and neck. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 2 hours lecture per week, 1 hours lab per week. (36 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Discussion and development of techniques and/or equipment needed to meet the needs of special patient populations. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week. (12 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Preparation for apprenticeship in a dental environment. Includes sexual harassment and diversity training. Introduction to chairside assisting skills; use and care of dental equipment, instrument identification; overview of common dental procedures such as patient intake, patient assessments, examination and prophylaxis appointments. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program .
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week, 4 hours lab per week. (60 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Introduction to infectious diseases important to dentistry. Lecture, lab and clinical instruction on disinfection, instrument decontamination, sterilization procedures and tray set-up preparation. Regulatory compliance agencies such as OSHA, CDC and ADA recommendations. Hazardous materials management and waste management. Protocols and emergency procedures for hazardous and biohazardous waste or materials. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1.5 hours lecture per week, 1 hours lab per week. (30 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Fabrication, seating, temporary cementation and removal of excess cement for temporary crowns. Information necessary for completion of requirements for national certification and Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) licensure in the State of California. Review of chairside dental assisting procedures to prepare for written and practical examinations. Intended for students in the Dental Assisting Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week, 3 hours lab per week. (48 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: CSU
• Transfer GE: Information regarding how this course is applied toward CSU GE/Breadth or IGETC certification is available at:
• Foothill Transfer GE Guide

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: Professional, legal and ethical responsibilities of the dental team with an emphasis on dental assisting. The role of the dental assistant with regards to patient communication and office personnel relations.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 1 hours lecture per week. (12 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: None

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.

• Description: This course is for students considering a career in the dental field. Introduction to communication, anatomy, terminology, equipment, and infection control procedures relevant to dentistry. Also includes time management, study skills and test taking strategies. Provides information concerning PPE related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases as required safety measures when working in a dental environment.
• Repeatability: Not Repeatable.
• Hours: 3 hours lab per week. (36 hours total per quarter.)
• Transferability: None

Department Note:

There is a selective admission process to enroll in these classes. For an application, call (650) 949-7538.