9/13/2025 10:33:51 AM	DA 68 Course Outline as of Fall 2026	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  DA 68	Title:  CLINICAL PRAC. & SEM.
Full Title:  Clinical Practice and Seminar
Last Reviewed:9/8/2025

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	6.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.25		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	21.88
Minimum	6.00	Lab Scheduled	0		9 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	15.50			Contact DHR	271.25
		Contact Total	16.75			Contact Total	293.13
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  43.75

Total Student Learning Hours: 336.88

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  DA 66.2L

Catalog Description:

Students will perform entry level clinical skills in general and specialty dental offices across Sonoma County. Students will focus on chairside techniques and performing Registered Dental Assistint (RDA) tasks. Each week stuents will meet to attend classes to discuss, evaluate, and review both clinical experiences and the RDA examination application process.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of DA 62 and DE 55A

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:
Acceptance to the Allied Dental Programs

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will perform entry level clinical skills in general and specialty dental offices across Sonoma County. Students will focus on chairside techniques and performing Registered Dental Assistint (RDA) tasks. Each week stuents will meet to attend classes to discuss, evaluate, and review both clinical experiences and the RDA examination application process.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of DA 62 and DE 55A
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:Acceptance to the Allied Dental Programs
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Summer 2012	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate all of the tasks legally delegated to the Registered Dental Assistant in

a general practice and a specilty practice, at the beginner level. These duties include pit and fissure sealants, radiation safety and techniques, and coronal polishing. 2. Identify and apply skills necessary to participate as a member of a dental team and contribute to the comfort and safety of patients.

3. Demonstrate ethical behavior and professionalism as defined in the American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) Code of Ethics.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate ethics and professionalism as a member of the dental healthcare team.

2. Function as a chairside dental assistant in both general and specialty dental practices.

3. Perform instrument processing procedures.

4. Perform all Registered Dental Assistant tasks under the appropriate level of supervision.

5. Identify ethics and professionalism as a member of the dental healthcare team.

6. Prepare for the California Registered Dental Assistant examinations.

Topics and Scope

I. Ethics and Professionalism

    A. Personal hygiene

     B. Grooming

     C. Program policies

     D. ADAA Code of Ethics

II. RDA Written Exam

    A. Application process

     B. Scope of exam

     C. Preparation

III. Clinical Proficiency

     A. General duties

     B. RDA functions

          1. Pit and fissure sealants

          2. Coronal polishing

          3. Radiation safety

     C. Aseptic techniques

IV. Standards and Criteria for Evaluation of Clinical Performance

     A. Self-evaluation

     B. Externship site supervisor evaluation

     C. Instructor evaluation of the student

Assignments:

1. Completion of required clinical hours (265 minimum)

2. Task completion sheet at end of each rotation (2) such as sealants, coronal polish and other RDA functions

3. Written goals for each rotation (2)

4. Written student summary self evaluation (2)

5. Written new material and new techniques report (2)

6. Written office management report (1)

7. Student performance evaluation (3)

8. Clinical site evaluation (2)

9. Weekly log of clinical procedures

10. Weekly verified time sheet

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 30%
Goals, student summary self-evaluations, new material and new techniques reports, office management report
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 30 - 40%
Student performance evaluations, task completion sheets
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 0 - 0%
None
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 40 - 50%
Clinical site evaluations, completion of all clinical hours, weekly log of clinical procedures, weekly verified time sheet

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Modern Dental Assisting. 14th ed. Robinson, Debbie. Elsevier. 2024.

Instructor prepared materials

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