Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
Dental Assisting Orientation – Information SheetInstructor/Coordinator: Debbie M. Reynon, CDA RDA AA AS
Clinical Instructional Aide/Supervisor: Karen Vega, RDA/Shirley Anderson, DA Classroom Hours: 660 hours (Class begins August 31, 2015)*
Class ends June 10, 2016)
*Mandatory Fall 2015 Class Orientation is on Wednesday, 8/26/15
Clinical Site Hours (Internship): *Minimum of 240 hours internship hours up to 340+ hours Days Class Meets: Monday/Wednesday (3:15 pm – 7:30 pm) – Lecture
Tuesday/Thursday (3:15 – 7:30 pm) - Lab
Including Ten Mandatory Clinical Saturdays (8:00 am – 5:00 pm)TBA
Dental Radiology Certification: 64 hours (January 2016) Class schedule TBA and is held during
three weeks (M, T, W, Th, & F) plus two Saturdays at Cabrillo College Hygiene Clinic.
Enrollment: Must be 18 years of age.
Pre-Clinical Training Requirements
: *ALL students must have 1st and 2nd Hepatitis B vaccinations and two TB tests by the first clinical lab day in order to participate in any clinical activities. No exceptions! These vaccinations are a standard requirement for the health profession and entry to the ROP Medical Pathway Programs. Health requirements will be due on Monday, August 31, 2015 . Proof must be provided PRIOR to clinical instruction!*Work Based Learning Opportunities (Clinical internship) will be in addition to classroom hours. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of preclinical internship (job shadow) during the first semester, and will need to complete a minimum of 224 hours (up to 340 plus hours) during the second semester. Students need to complete a minimum of 16 to 20 hours per week in a dental office to complete their clinical requirements (*240 hours) by
the end of program. Pre-clinical internship (job shadow) will begin October 2015). Clinical
internship hours will begin in February 2016. *Please note: 240 hours are the minimum hours required. Students will complete up to 340 hours or more if needed to complete all skills competencies at 75%! Please remember – employers always ask about work experience! The more hours you invest into your clinical work experience allows you more opportunities for employment!
Please be advised internship participation is NON-PAID unless a student is currently employed in a dental office. If a student is currently employed in a dental office, a minimum of 16 hours
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
Pre-Clinical/Internship Training Saturdays: Students will be required to attend TEN MANDATORY pre-clinical training activities in preparation for internship as well as enhancedlearning in the areas of extra-oral radiography and digital x-ray; introduction to coronal polish, introduction provisional restorations, introduction to orthodontic assistant duties, and front office duties. These Saturdays may be held at off-site clinical classroom and dental facilities (Cabrillo College), dental offices, and at Harbor High School Dental Assisting classroom.
*Schedule and class calendar will be dispersed to students on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 during the Fall 2015 orientation. Students will also receive textbook, workbook, and instrument pocket guide along with assignments during the orientation.
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
Guidelines to the Student
ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS: Regular and punctual attendance for all classroom, clinical, and
internship activities including MANDATORY Saturdays are important for the development of
self-discipline and a professional work ethic.
Due to the MANDATORY hours required for awarding Certificate of Completion in Dental Assisting, as well as proof of “work experience” hours required applicable to the RDA written and Practical Examination for qualified applicants, no student may have more than THREE (3)
absences! Please note 100% attendance is required for Dental Radiology Certification! No Exceptions!
If absences EXCEED three (3), THE STUDENT MAY BE DROPPED from the program! Students
earn points for attendance. Attendance points are earned just like hours are earned for “payroll” at a real job. Attendance points become part of the total grade for each semester. Points will be DEDUCTED for all tardies regardless of the excuse. This will also apply to any student who leaves “early” for any reason. *Ten (10) hours of clinical internship will be added
for each absence. For every tardy, one (1) hour of clinical internship will be added. Excessive tardies (6 tardies is considered excessive)! Six tardies equals ONE (1) ABSENCE! This also includes leaving class early for any reason. *Please be advised, students cannot make up attendance points!
For students with perfect attendance at the end of each quarter, students will receive 10 extra points. Students with perfect attendance at the end of each semester, students will receive special recognition at graduation with special honors!
All absences from class or clinic time must be made up including assignments by arrangement with the instructor, and must be completed by the deadline arranged with the instructor, usually within one week of original absence. Students will be required to submit in writing
reason for any absence. Students must make up all missed work, and will receive -0- points
for each missed activity.
NO SHOW NO CALL (NSNC): This is NOT tolerated in a dental office (work environment). Many
people are depending on you to be reliable and responsible! ALL absences and tardies must be called in to the instructor and (if applicable) to your clinical site supervisor NO LESS THAN ONE
(1) HOUR BEFORE CLASS OR CLINICAL TIME!
The first event will result in student/instructor conference, the next occurrence may be an automatic drop from the program (same as being FIRED from the job)! Being LATE to class or to clinical assignment is also NOT tolerated!
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
Personal appointments such as dental or doctor appointments should be made outside of class, clinical or internship time!These requirements are strict, but promptness, reliability, and dependability are crucial in the dental/medical occupations! Building these habits (foundations, work ethics) from the beginning of your learning experience will help you become a professional working on a dental health care team. We wish you every success and satisfaction in your new program and choice of career.
TRANSPORTATION: Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from the
classroom and all clinical work sites.
GRADING CRITERIA/ASSIGNMENTS: It is the students’ responsibility after an absence to find out what they missed from a fellow student then go to the instructor to ask for any handout/materials or to make arrangements to make up assignments or tests. Please note:
quizzes may not be made up!
Attitudes will also reflect on the student’s grade, such as communication skills, interpersonal relations and working with fellow students, teachers, and instructional staff. Students are
responsible for all reading and reviewing assignments consistently in textbook, instrument pocket guide, chapter exercises, study guides, lecture guides, lab journal, and student workbook. Student must pass all assignments, quizzes, tests, clinical activities, midterms, and
final examinations at a minimum of 75%! This is the standard required for passing the state
and national examinations to become a Registered Dental Assistant in the state of California or a Certified Dental Assistant.
If a student misses a class, a one-page minimum 500-word “summary” report will be written on the subject missed and the workbook chapter is to be completed. A student will have the
option of doing extra credit work pre-approved by the instructor to improve their grade. There
is a maximum of 15 points each quarter for extra credit projects to be submitted.
Students will display appropriate attitudes, motivation and proper grooming! Students will
be expected to dress appropriately on school days and dress as you would for a job interview when we have a guest speaker and/or uniform as indicated by the instructor. Instructor may implement assigned seating on a rotational basis at will.
Complete and accurate notes must be taken and brought to class along with textbook, instrument pocket guide, workbook, handouts, pen, pencil, red/blue charting pencils each scheduled day of class; including appropriate attire for clinical lab activities. All handouts, notes, etc. should be organized and maintained in two 2-inch binders. Notebooks and lab journals will be turned in each semester and points will be given based on criteria indicated by
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
the instructor. Because of the high-cost of duplicating handouts, only one will be given per student.
DRESS CODE: (includes classroom/pre-clinical/clinical/internship training)
Students will dress appropriately for an opportunity to be hired at any given moment: 1. All female students will be required to wear a brassiere to class.
2. All students will be required to wear appropriate undergarments, and must avoid wearing “colors” under white uniform smocks or pants.
3. Hair must be neat, clean, pulled back and clipped or banded away from the face at ALL TIMES!
4. All male students will be groomed, including hair and face, and dressed appropriately for this field.
5. Fingernails must be kept short! NO NAIL POLISH! NO ACRYLIC NAILS will be accepted including “French” tips due to infection control guidelines!
6. NO bare midriff tops; should not expose midriff or stomach.
7. NO visible tattoos or body piercings such as nose, eye, lips, tongue, or several ear piercings
including bolts; no body adornments such as tattoos on the hand, back of neck, or anywhere visible as this would not be appropriate for employment or internship in the dental field.
8. Visible tattoos will be required to be covered up with a band-aid and earrings in inappropriate places including tongue rings must be removed while in class, clinical lab, and clinical internship sites. “Our goal is to prepare educationally qualified dental assisting students with professional
demeanor include appropriate dress code for “hire-ability.”
9. Preselected (color) clinical warm-up jacket must be worn during ALL clinical lab activities.
Clinical warm-up jackets must be long sleeved with ribbed cuffs and must snap at the collar.
Clinical warm-up jackets will be pre-selected by instructors (two colors will be pre-selected), and students will purchase them at JT Uniforms in Salinas as the embroidery and emblem will be preselected.
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
10. Scrubs (unisex shirt and pants) are required (color TBA). Students may wear scrub tops withcolors, designs, or prints. Uniform pants must be hemmed appropriately or “cuffed” style –
they cannot “drag” on the floor, and should fit well, NOT LOOSE or low-riders!
11. Uniforms should be maintained appropriately, washed, clean, and pressed (ironed)!
UNIFORMS and PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT are REQUIRED for all clinical labs, pre-clinical training, dental x-ray labs, during any pre-clinical activities and (work based learning opportunities, internship) participation. Students will be required to be in uniform on Monday, August 31, 2015.
12. Students will be required to have the following information imprinted/embroidered as indicated below on the solid scrub top and on the upper LEFT hand side:
Students FIRST and LAST NAME Example: Nancy Allen
ROP Student ROP Dental Assistant Student
JT Healthcare has details of ALL of the uniform requirements for the Dental Assisting Program, and will provide the embroidery for the scrubs tops and PRESELECTED TYPE AND COLOR “warm-up” jackets required for clinical lab participation. Students will receive a discount of 15% (unless otherwise noted by JT Uniforms). Students may contact: Theresa, Owner JT Healthcare Uniforms
918 South Main Street Salinas, CA 93901
Website: www.JTuniforms.com Phone: (831) 424-9439
*Once “warm up jackets” are ordered with printing information, instructor will pick up lab jackets and distribute them at the mandatory Fall Orientation on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.
13. White/black uniform shoes or white/black athletic shoes which may be cleaned and disinfected appropriately will be accepted; (NO CANVAS, NO VANS, or OPEN-TOED SHOES allowed).
White/black uniform shoes or appropriate athletic shoes will be worn during clinical lab days, during clinical rotations at Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene clinic, and in internship.
14. Students will be required to wear a “surgical” cap to keep hair pulled back and out of the face during all clinical lab days. Students may purchase their own “surgical” cap at JT Healthcare Uniform.
15. Appropriate clinical attire must be worn whenever there is a professional guest lecturer on lecture days.
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
16. Personal protective eye wear (goggles) are required for all clinical lab activities and internship!Cabrillo College bookstore carries nice protective eyewear goggles for $10.99. Students may also want to order protective eyewear through Palace Arts Supply for approximately $5.95 and up; or students may want to order online.
17. NO excessive make-up or jewelry. (ONE RING ONLY – wedding band or engagement ring okay).
NO more than two earrings per ear lobe. NO dangly earrings, NO hoops longer than ½ inch from ear lobe! Please note: due to infection control guidelines, it is recommended that jewelry NOT
be worn during clinical procedures).
18. NO beepers or cell phones are allowed on school campus.
19. NO beepers or CELL phones are allowed during in any pre-clinical clinical lab or dental x-ray lab! Beepers or cell phones may be confiscated by the instructor or instructional aide during any lab activity! NO IPODS or MP3 or MP4 players are allowed during class time!
20. Absolutely NO hoodies, sweatshirts, or layering of jackets UNDER or OVER any protective
clinical wear (lab coat, warm-up jacket, scrubs)! You are in a clinical environment and must dress according to OSHA standards at all times! Failure to do so may cause you to be dismissed
from all clinical lab activities and loss of clinical activity points!
21. NO SMOKING ANYWHERE ON CAMPUS OR SCHOOL GROUNDS! It is against the law to smoke anywhere on school grounds! If a student is caught smoking on campus, they will be suspended or terminated from the program! *All dental settings and class settings are considered “smoke free” environments.
22. During ALL clinical and role playing applications, students will wear appropriate attire to include warm-up jacket, lab coat, personal protective eyewear, masks, and gloves as indicated by OSHA.
23. Students will be required to wear NAME BADGES provided by SCCROP during all classroom, clinical lab activities, clinical rotations at Cabrillo College, internships, job shadows, and during all dental radiology preclinical and certification activities!
*If a student does NOT comply with any of the uniform requirements stated, student may be dismissed from class, go to homeroom, or dismissed for any clinical lab activity!
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program
Dental Assisting Program
2015
2016
Student Check List – First Semester
1. School Supplies
(1) – two inch binders
Binder paper – 3 hole – 8 ½ x 11
(2) #2 pencils
(2) black or blue ink pens
(2) red ink pens
(1) package of color markers or color pencils
(1 ) package of highlighters
(1) 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 spiral index card binder or index cards may be pre-looped or bound together
(6) packages of 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 index cards
1” binder for career portfolio with see through front binder cover or a resume portfolio binder – see “Kinkos” for this specialized professional portfolio binder
2. Health Requirements *Must be completed by due dates indicated below!
TB Test 1 – Due by Monday, August 31, 2015 or current one within one year
TB Test 2 – Due by October 1, 2015.
Hepatitis B #1 – Due by August 31, 2015. Hepatitis B #2 – Due by October 1,
2015.
Hepatitis B #3 – *Due 4 months after 2nd vaccination –February/March 2016. *A copy of the student’s vaccination record will be accepted as proof of acceptance. *Hepatitis B
vaccinations are given in an injection series of three vaccinations. The second injection is given within
thirty days of the first injection. The third injection is giving four months after the second injection. The entire series is completed in six months. It is important that students complete the series within the recommended time limits! This is a requirement of enrolling in the Dental Assisting Program.
3. Uniform Requirements: *Required for internship participation as well as clinical
activities! Students are required to be in complete uniform attire by Monday, August
31, 2015.
Scrub top – 2 pairs (color will be pre-selected)
Scrub pants – 2 pairs (color will be pre-selected)
Clinical warm-up jacket (color will be pre-selected)
Surgical scrub cap
White/black uniform shoes or white/black athletic shoes only lab days and internship!
