Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Students must have completed DA 118 with a grade of C or better, or have instructor or program administration approval.

• Describe the dental assistant’s role as an orthodontic assistant.

• Perform basic orthodontic assistant duties.

• Demonstrate and complete evaluations showing the ability to expose extra oral photographs, place separators, remove cement from orthodontic bands and tooth surfaces, instruct an orthodontic patient in oral hygiene home care, and place orthodontic archwires on manikins.

• Describe the sequence of orthodontic treatment.

• Complete quizzes, midterm and final exams on knowledge based information.

Themes:

Orthodontic Assistant duties

Professionalism

Dental team member responsibilities during orthodontic specialty care

Orthodontic direct patient care treatment

Concepts:

Communication in a professional manner

Efficiency of dentistry in an orthodontic practice

Armamentarium

Health and Safety

Documentation

Issues:

Time management

Patient management

Organization

Competencies and skills:

• Follow OSHA Universal precautions and Hazardous Material Guidelines while providing patient care during orthodontic treatment to patients.

• Explain procedures to patient and answer basic questions regarding orthodontic treatment.

• Describe the Palmer Notation method of tooth identification

• Demonstrate the ability to expose extraoral photographs for orthodontic use.

• Demonstrate the ability to place tooth separation devices on manikins.

• Demonstrate the ability to place and remove archwires on manikins.

• Identify orthodontic instruments and describe their use.

• Demonstrate the ability to remove cement from orthodontic bands and tooth surfaces.

• Define and discuss the importance of orthodontic treatment for optimum oral health.

• Describe the indications for orthodontic treatment.