DAT - Dental Assisting
DAT 113 Dental Materials (3-3-4)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course is a study of physical and chemical properties of matter and identification, characteristics, and manipulation of dental materials.
DAT 115 Ethics & Professionalism (1-0-1)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course introduces a cursory history of dental assisting, professional associations, scope of service in dentistry and ethical, legal and professional considerations. The State Dental Practice Act is reviewed. (This course is only offered online.)
DAT 116 Fundamentals of Dental Medicine (3-0-3)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course is a study of dental office emergencies, microbiology, pharmacology and oral pathology as related to the role of the dental assistant.
DAT 118 Dental Morphology (1-3-2)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program
This course emphasizes the development, eruption and individual characteristics of each tooth and surrounding structures.
DAT 121 Dental Health Education (1-3-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course defines the responsibilities of the dental assistant in individual and community dental health education with emphasis on the etiology of dental disease, methods for prevention and principles of nutrition in relation to oral health and preventive dentistry.
DAT 122 Dental Office Management (1-3-2)
Offered Summer Semester
Co-requisite: DAT 177
This course provides a study of the business aspect of a dental office and dental computer software.
DAT 127 Dental Radiology (3-3-4)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides the fundamental background and theory for the safe and effective use of x-radiation in dentistry. It encompasses the history of x-rays, production and uses of radiation, radiographic film, exposure factors, interpretation of radiographs and radiation hygiene.
DAT 154 Clinical Procedures I (2-6-4)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Dental Assisting program (Infection Control Online component must be completed prior to course start date)
This course includes preparation to assist a dentist efficiently in four-handed dentistry. Emphasis is on the names and functions of all dental instruments, the principles involved in their use and the assistant’s role in dental instrumentation.
DAT 160 Expanded Duties/Specialties (1-3-2)
Offered Spring Semester
This course provides practical experience in performing the expanded duties designated by the SC State Board of Dentistry for Expanded Duty Dental Assistants. In addition, the course covers an overview of dental specialties.
DAT 175 Introduction to Clinical Experience (1-12-5)
Offered Spring Semester
This course is an introduction to chairside assisting with emphasis on general practice and exposure to several dental specialties. Students will be assigned to a variety of dental practice settings and will record experiences in an online journal for faculty review. Seminars will be held to allow sharing of experiences.
DAT 177 Dental Office Experience (2-15-7)
Offered Summer Semester
Co-requisite: DAT 122
This course consists of practice in the dental office or clinic with rotation of assignments to encompass experiences in office management and clinical experience in all areas of dentistry.