# Dental Assisting (DA) courses Allan Hancock College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 15 courses Source: https://hancockcollege.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/28544/28860/31238 "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027. ### DA 310 — Exploring Career Opportunities - **Units:** 1 - **Offered:** Summer 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/summer-2026/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Pass/No Pass An exploration of dental health career options. Provides a preview on dental practices and specialties, professional and legal responsibilities, and the roles of the dental assistant. Details program requirements and student success and support services including but not limited to financial aid, academic counseling, learning assistance, etc. ### DA 314 — Introduction to Bio-Dental Science - **Units:** 3 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course presents basic terminology related to human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on head and neck anatomy. It introduces the bio-dental sciences: dental nomenclature, embryology, histology, morphology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology,nutrition and preventive dentistry. ### DA 317 — Dental Assisting Theory - **Units:** 7 - **Corequisite:** DA 318 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting Program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on the dental assisting theory. ### DA 318 — Basic Dental Assisting Skills - **Units:** 3 - **Corequisite:** DA 317 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course prepares the student to provide patient care with emphasis on diagnostic, restorative, and specialty branches of dentistry. Topics include infection control, management of hazardous materials, emergency medical procedures, and management of pain and anxiety. It focuses on dental assistant skills. ### DA 319 — DA Administrative Skills - **Units:** 3 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md) - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The aim of this course is for the clinical dental assistant to learn the foundational administrative skills utilized in the dental office. Topics covered include the branches of dentistry and the role of each team member. Participants will learn the dental basics, which include numbering systems, charting, cavity classifications, and treatment planning. We will explore strategies for effective communication skills as they relate to patient management, scheduling, recall systems, and other related administrative duties. The ADA code of ethics is reviewed. Including compliance with HIPAA regulations, professional and other ethical issues facing the dental profession. Employment strategies are discussed. Dental software is utilized. ### DA 320 — DA Practicum in the Community - **Units:** 1 - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills in the community and public health settings. The student would participate in dental screenings, provide oral hygiene instruction, and apply fluoride varnish on children and migrant families in the community. ### DA 325 — Clinical Dental Procedures - **Units:** 3 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course focuses on intra-oral procedures including temporary crowns, temporary restorations, as well as clinical procedures performed by Registered Dental Assistants. Emphasis is also given to the California State Board testing requirements. ### DA 326 — Dental Radiography - **Units:** 4 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only This course covers the principles and procedures related to dental radiography and digital imaging.Topics include history,radiation physics and biological effects, protection procedures and safety guidelines. It includes film identification, processing, mounting, and evaluation. Laboratory exposures on manikin cover intra-oral techniques for periapical and bitewing films using various techniques and film-holding devices. Clinical exposures of patients are completed with authorization of a licensed dentist, evaluated by faculty, and utilized by the dentist for diagnostic purposes. A State Dental Board certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course. ### DA 327 — Dental Screening - **Units:** 0.5 - **Offered:** Winter 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/winter-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only This course provides clinical experiences in dental screening skills. Emphasis is on performing four-handed chair-side dental assisting, identifying, and recording patient clinical findings of intra-oral and extra-oral dental examinations. Eligible patients would be provided with the opportunity to schedule subsequent dental appointments in radiography, coronal polish, and pit and fissure sealant clinics. ### DA 328 — Pit and Fissure Sealants - **Units:** 1 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only Thc course provides theory and clinical applications of resin materials, pit and fissure sealants, on developing teeth to prevent cavities. ### DA 329 — Dental Assisting Practicum - **Units:** 4 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only This course provides supervised learning experiences in the various applications of dental assisting skills. ### DA 330 — Coronal Polish - **Units:** 1 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only This course meets the requirements of the California Board of Dentistry. It includes techniques for removal of pellicle, plaque, and extrinsic stain from the clinical crown. Students will be evaluated on adherence to sterilization and infection control policies and procedures as well as actual provision of care on three dental patients. ### DA 332 — RDA Law and Ethics - **Units:** 0.5 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting Program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course prepares students to take the California Dental Board law and ethics examination. It covers the licensure requirements, scope of practice of the registered dental assistant, revocation of license, and ethical standards of practice. ### DA 348 — RDA - Success Seminar - **Units:** 0.5 - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md) - Limitation on Enrollment: Successful completion of second semester dental assisting program courses.Admittance to Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only The course is designed to prepare students for the written components of the State Board examination. The California State Practice Act will be reviewed. ### DA 380 — Dental Assisting Skills Lab - **Units:** 0.5 - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules - Limitation on Enrollment: Admittance to the Dental Assisting program - Grading Method: Letter Grade Only This is an open-entry laboratory course designed to provide students with the opportunity to refine and expand skills learned in the corequisite program. Students may repeat the course as they progress through the program.