# Dental Assisting (DA) courses

Palomar College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 14 courses

Source: https://palomar.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/32573/33385/32617

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### DA 47 — Dental Assisting Topics

- **Units:** 0.5-4
- **Hours:** 0.50-4.00 hours lecture, 1.50-12.00 hours lab
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Only
- Notes: Units awarded in topics courses are dependent upon the number of hours required of the student. Any combination of lecture and laboratory may be scheduled by the department. Refer to Class Schedule. Non-degree Applicable

Topics in Dental Assisting. See Class Schedule for specific topic offered. Course title will designate subject covered.

### DA 50 — Introduction to Dental Sciences and Dental Occupations

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lecture
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

General orientation to dental assisting. Introduction to basic oral anatomy, oral hygiene techniques and prevention, human behavior, dental nomenclature, dental assisting, history of dentistry, ethics, role of the dental assistant and other auxiliary personnel; licensing and certification of dental assistants; dental jurisprudence and malpractice; California Dental Practice Act, psychology and observation in dental offices.

### DA 57 — Dental Sciences and Anatomy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lecture
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Introduction of dental terminology, histology, embryology, tooth growth, eruption, and anatomy; head and neck anatomy, and physiology of the body. Form and function of individual teeth, occlusion, oral pathology, diet and nutrition, relation of oral health to general health, microbiology, disease control and dental pharmacology.

### DA 60 — Dental Materials

- **Units:** 3.5
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lecture, 1.50 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** Admission to the Registered Dental Assisting Program
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Chemical properties and uses of dental materials and solutions; manipulative techniques and methods of preparation.

### DA 65 — Dental Practice Management

- **Units:** 2
- **Hours:** 2.00 hours lecture, 1.00 hours lab
- **C-ID:** DENA 100 X
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 3 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Reception and care of the patient in the dental office, communication skills, telephone techniques, appointment scheduling, dental computer software, dental records (charting health and dental history), filing, bookkeeping, accounts receivable and accounts payable, inventory management, principles of and use of insurance forms and collections.

### DA 70 — Dental Radiography I

- **Units:** 2.5
- **Hours:** 2.00 hours lecture, 2.00 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** Admission to the Registered Dental Assisting Program
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 5 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Theory and technique of oral radiography, radiation hygiene, anatomical landmarks, and methods and materials for processing radiographs using film and dental radiography. The laboratory portion will provide the student with knowledge concerning film and digital sensor placement, cone angulation, exposing and developing radiographs, and mounting and evaluating processed films and digital radiographs.

### DA 71 — Dental Radiography II

- **Units:** 0.5
- **Hours:** 1.50 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** DA 50; DA 70; proof of Hepatitis B Immunization; current BLS for Healthcare Providers Certificate
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 4 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Advanced clinical experience regarding film and digital sensor placement, cone angulation, exposing and developing radiographs, mounting and evaluating radiographs.

### DA 75 — Dental Operative Procedures

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lecture, 6.00 hours lab
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Applications of and introduction to preclinical dental assisting in operative and specialty dental procedures, care of equipment, instrumentation, infection control, disease transmission, charting, utilization of dental materials, dental office emergencies, and functions delegated to the California Registered Dental Assistant.

### DA 82 — Preventive Dentistry I

- **Units:** 1.5
- **Hours:** 1.00 hours lecture, 1.50 hours lab
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 5 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/fall-2026/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

This course teaches laboratory and clinical applications of coronal polishing, periodontics, preventive dentistry and placement of pit and fissure sealants.

### DA 83 — Preventive Dentistry II

- **Units:** 0.5
- **Hours:** 1.50 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** DA 82
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 4 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Only

Application of concepts and skills from DA 82. Emphasis is on the coronal polishing procedure and pit and fissure sealants as applied to clinical patients.

### DA 85 — Advanced Dental Procedures

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lecture, 6.00 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** DA 50; DA 60; DA 75
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 3 sections (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Graded Only

Advanced laboratory and clinical experience focusing on basic skills previously learned. Emphasis is placed on 1) clinical use of impression materials for obtaining study models, 2) pouring and trimming plaster and stone models, 3) fabrication of custom trays, 4) fabrication of provisional restorations and 5) advanced prosthodontic and orthodontic instruction.

### DA 91 — Clinical Rotation I

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** 3.00 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** DA 75
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Only

An introductory clinical externship course working with dentists, dental staff and dental patients at assigned clinical site.

### DA 92 — Advanced Clinical Rotation

- **Units:** 5
- **Hours:** 15.00 hours lab
- **Prerequisite:** DA 91
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/palomar-college/schedule/spring-2027/da.md)
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Only

An intensive program of clinical dental experiences, working with patients and staff at clinics and/or private dental offices. Students will assist the dentists in specialized and operative procedures and duties delegated to the California licensed Registered Dental Assistant.

### DA 97 — Dental Assisting Topics

- **Units:** 0.5-4
- **Hours:** 0.50-4.00 hours lecture, 1.50-12.00 hours lab
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules
- Grading: Pass/No Pass Only
- Notes: Units awarded in topics courses are dependent upon the number of hours required of the student. Any combination of lecture and laboratory may be scheduled by the department. Refer to Class Schedule.

Topics in Dental Assisting. See Class Schedule for specific topic offered. Course title will designate subject covered.