Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for DA 116 Winter 2025


Course Number:
DA 116
Course Title:
The Whole Patient - Ethical, Legal, and Medical Implications
Credit Hours:
2
Lecture Hours:
20
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Covers medical emergencies, pharmacology, and ethical standards established by the dental professions. Covers legal responsibilities of the dental assistant and the dentist as established by the Oregon Dental Practice Act. Provides a correlation between treating the whole patient (pharmacology, psychology, and emergency treatment) and providing standard of care treatment and proper documentation for industry. Prerequisites: Acceptance in the Dental Assisting program.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Practice as dental assistants applying ethical principles and standards as set forth in the Oregon Dental Practice Act.
  2. Demonstrate how the laws and regulations apply toward their professional roles.
  3. Demonstrate professional behavior in the classroom. 
  4. Recognize drugs used in the dental practice and those drugs used by dental patients.
  5. Describe possible medical emergencies that might occur in the dental office and the drugs used to deal with these emergencies.
  6. Identify psychological issues that may impact the patient as a whole.
  7. Recognize and identify psychological issues that may impact acceptance of dental care.
  8. Discuss the psychology of patient management and interpersonal communication.

Course Activities and Design

  • Lecture
  • In classroom instructor-guided research - students will use their electronic devices to research topics relevant to the class 
  • Small Group Activities such as discussions and case studies

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Quizzes
  • Midterm
  • Final
  • Research
  • Class discussions/Journals/case studies

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • The Oregon Dental Practice Act
  • Licensure vs. Certification
  • Violations
  • Qualifications for Licenses
  • Appeals Process
  • Members of the Oregon Board of Dentistry
  • Duties of the Board of Dentistry
  • Requirements for Licensure:
    • Dentists
    • Dental Hygienists
  • Other Endorsements for Dental Hygienists
  • Defined Practice Limits
  • EFDA, EFODA, Restorative requirements for Dental Assistants
  • Legal and ethical aspects of dentistry
  • Ethical Theory
  • Autonomy and Informed Consent
  • Case Studies
  • Professional Behavior
  • Plagiarism and Cheating
  • Charting/Documentation
  • Psychology of patient management and interpersonal communication
  • Introduction to Medical Emergencies
  • Introduction to Pharmacology
    • Local Anesthesia
    • Nitrous Oxide
    • General Anesthesia
    • Cardiovascular Drugs
    • Respiratory Drugs
    • Gastrointestinal Drugs
    • Neurologic Drugs
    • Psychiatric Drugs
    • Endocrine/Hormonal Drugs
    • Narcotics/Analgesics
    • Antibiotics/Antifungal/Antiviral Agents

Related Instruction

Communication
Hours: 5

  • Demonstrate professional behavior in the classroom and clinics
  • Discuss the psychology of patient management and interpersonal communication.

Students will apply their knowledge of the following topics through class discussions, in classroom research and case studies.

  • The Oregon Dental Practice Act
  • Violations
  • Appeals Process
  • Other Endorsements 
  • Autonomy and Informed Consent
  • Case Studies
  • Professional Behavior
  • Plagiarism and Cheating
  • Charting/Documentation