Oxbridge Academy Distance Learning South Africa

Dental Practice Assistant Courses In South Africa:

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What Is A Dental Assistant?

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare and lay out the instruments and materials required to treat each patient, and obtain and update patients' dental records. Assistants make patients comfortable in the dental chair and prepare them for treatment. During dental procedures, assistants work alongside the dentist to provide assistance. They hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients' mouths dry and clear by using suction hoses or other devices. They also instruct patients on postoperative and general oral healthcare.

Dental assistants may prepare materials for impressions and restorations, and process dental x rays as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place dental dams to isolate teeth for treatment.

Dental assistants must work closely with, and under the supervision of, dentists. Additionally, dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform a different set of clinical tasks.

Work environment. Dental assistants work in a well-lighted, clean environment. Their work area is usually near the dental chair so that they can arrange instruments, materials, and medication and hand them to the dentist when needed. Dental assistants must wear gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases. Assistants also follow safety procedures to minimize the risks associated with the use of x-ray machines.

Office administration. Scheduling and verifying the appointments. Receiving patients as they arrive. Keeping a record of the various procedures followed. Receiving the bills and distributing charges.
Ordering dental materials and supplies. Answering phone calls, taking stock of office supplies and ordering them as needed. Managing information and filling out the insurance documents.

What You Will Learn In This Dental Practice Assistant Training

The anatomical features of the human body
The importance of cells and genetics
How muscles work
The function of the nervous system
The fundamentals of patient reception and service
The procedures and paperwork involved in patient visits and record keeping
The importance of management skills
Bookkeeping and Accounting systems
The duties of the Surgery Assistant
How dental charting is accomplished
Dental anatomy
The features of microbiology
The principles and procedures involved in restorative dentistry
The reasons for and techniques used in minor oral surgery
The theory and practice of orthodontic treatment

Who Will Benefit From This Dental Practice Assistant Diploma?

This Dental Practice Assistant course is developed to benefit any individual who is currently working in the Dental field who wants promotion at work,

any student who cannot afford to go to university to study but wants to acquire more knowledge and understanding in this specific working environment and thus making them employable.

What Award Will I Have After I Have Completed My Dental Practice Assistant Diploma?

The Oxbridge Academy Dental Practice Assistant Diploma is a career-orientated skills programme which is provider developed and assessed. After completion of this diploma the student will show competence in the area of Dental Practice Assistant.

Oxbridge Academy also offers the following skills diplomas in the Medical field:

Oxbridge Skills Diploma Pharmacist Assistant (DIP4068-08)
Oxbridge Skills Diploma Medical Practice Assistant (DIP4044-09)
Oxbridge Skills Diploma Veterinary Surgery Assistant (DIP4067-09)

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