NEW YORK STATE REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTING PROGRAM
School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University

Program Faculty:
Nancy J. Meisner, RDH, BS

Elizabeth M. Crutchfield, NYSLCDA
Clinical Instructor

Technical Assistant:
Lisa A. Borzumato, NYSLCDA
Dental Assistant

As according to the memo of October 8, 1999:
" All New York State registered dentists were notified on May 12, 1998, regarding the profession of certified dental assisting. Legislation enacted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor on July 26, 1994, and August 8, 1995, amended New York's Education Law to create the new profession in New York of certified dental assisting, effective February 1, 1996."
" New York State licensed certified dental assistants may perform the functions that the scope of practice of this profession sets forth. Those functions include the following supportive services performed under the direct personal supervision of a dentist in his or her performance of dentistry:

• Providing patient education
• Taking preliminary medical histories and vital signs to be reviewed by the dentist
• Placing and removing rubber dams
• Selecting and prefitting provisional crowns
• Selecting and prefitting orthodontic bands
• Removing orthodontic arch wires and ligature ties
• Placing and removing matrix bands
• Taking impressions for study casts or diagnostic casts
• Removing periodontal dressings
• Removing sutures placed by a licensed dentist

To perform the functions listed above in New York on and after February 1, 1996, a dental assistant must be licensed as a New York State licensed certified dental assistant by the New York State Education Department. It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform the functions limited in New York to New York State licensed certification dental assistants. The Education Law makes it a Class E felony for an unlicensed person to do so. Upon the State Education Department's request, the New York State Attorney General prosecutes persons found practicing without a license. Licensees aiding and abetting such illegal practice are also subject to prosecution and may be subject to charges of unprofessional conduct. It is also unprofessional conduct for a licensee to delegate professional services to a person unless the person to whom the services are delegated is licensed and competent to perform them. Accordingly, we reiterate that all persons (other than licensed dentists and licensed dental hygienists) who provide the services listed above must be licensed."

The Dental Assisting Program is a ten (10) month, full-time program with didactic and clinical experience components. Beginning the end of August or the beginning of September of each year, most training occurs at the School of Dental Medicine and within the Dental Care Center. There is an external rotation to dental offices, the Dental Clinic of the University Hospital Center and the Dental Clinic of the Long Island Veteran's Home.

The course of study includes 27 program course hours with 570 clinical hours that encompasses a total of 1110 clock hours. Individual courses of study include:

• Dental Materials I and II
• Dental Assisting Chairside I and II
• Radiology I and II
• Bio-Medical Science I and II
• Dental Science - Oral Anatomy
• First Aid
• Dental Office Management
• Oral/Written Communications and Basic Behavioral Concepts

Requirements for student completion include attendance and success in completion of all clinical, laboratory, and classroom responsibilities. There is a graduation with a certificate of successful completion of the program awarded from the School of Dental Medicine, Office of the Dean. New York State Certification Examination.

Registration Fee: $2,600.00
Contact: Elizabeth.Crutchfield@sunysb.edu or call 631-632-6296

COURSE CONTENT:
Dental Materials I - 3 credits DA-11
Is a lecture and laboratory course designed to introduce students to the basic principle of dental restorative materials and techniques and to introduce the structure of matter and the physical and mechanical properties of selected dental materials fundamental to restorative dentistry.

Dental Materials II - 3 credits DA-21
Continues with additional clinical and laboratory experience from the basis of Dental Materials I. The student will become proficient in the recognition, manipulation, and management of dental materials utilized in all aspects of the practice of dentistry.

Dental Assisting - Chairside I - 3 credits DA-12
Is a lecture and laboratory course designed to introduce the student to the profession of dentistry, the dental health team, and to acquaint the student in the procedures and instrument armamentarium of four handed dentistry. The student is required to know and show competency in equipment preparation and maintenance, patient control, instrument identification and usage, tray set-ups for general dentistry, and sterilization.

Dental Assisting - Chairside II - 3 credits DA-22
Through specific clinical assignments in Operative Dentistry, Children's Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, and Orthodontics, the student will experience all phases of dentistry with practical experiences in four handed dentistry and dental operatory maintenance. The student will also be experienced in patient education techniques as well as chairside dental laboratory skills.

Dental Radiology I - 2 credits DA-13
Is a lecture, laboratory, and clinical course to give the student the basic principles of radiation physics and concepts of radiation safety in the dental office. Through specific assignments and practice in direct application, the student will learn the types of radiographs, exposure, and processing techniques of diagnostic dental films. The student will be introduced to the principles and methods utilized in the paralleling and bisecting line angle techniques,intra and extra oral radiographic surveys used in dentistry, and principles of radiographic interpretation. The student will become familiar with types and maintenance of dental radiograph processors.

Dental Radiology II - 2 credits DA-23
A continuation of Radiology I, emphasis is placed on the clinical application of previous information and skills obtained. The emphasis is on the quality control of radiographs, selection of appropriate radiographic procedures, recognition of anatomic landmarks and the skill to differentiate normal and abnormal dental conditions. Experience is obtained through continued classroom evaluations of clinical practice within the radiology suite. Panoramic surveys are included in the intro-oral radiographic experience.

Bio-Medical Science I - 3 credits DA-14
This is an integrated course of Human Anatomy and Physiology with an overview of the Human Body. The course includes a basic introduction to body structure, systems, and function, basic concepts in Microbiology, Oral Histology and Embryology, General Nutrition, Oral Pathology, Microorganisms, Immunology, Cells and Tissues, and an overview of Infection Control. Special management concerns of medically and developmentally compromised patients is correlated within the course.

Bio-Medical Science II - 3 credits DA-24
This is a continuation of Bio-Medical Science I emphasis on Oral Histology and Embryology, Oral Pathology, Special Care issues of patients with medical and developmental compromise, Nutrition, Human Immunology, Cardio-vascular and nervous systems, Head and Neck blood supply, Head and Neck nerve supply, and the correlation of all human systems, body functions, and structures. This course is inclusive of integration to all other courses within the dental assisting program.

Dental Science - Oral Anatomy - 2 credits DA-25
This is a lecture and laboratory course designed to introduce the students to the structural and functional interrelationship of the primary and permanent human dentition, tooth morphology, and soft tissues of the oral cavity and neck, and supportive structures of the human dentition.

First Aid - 1 credit DA-16
This is a course in Standard First Aid and Personal Safety with an emphasis on medical emergencies that could occur in a dental office setting. Students learn the signs and symptoms, prevention and treatment of these medical emergencies which include the following: cardiovascular disorders, pulmonary disorders, drug reactions, allergic reactions, hyperventilation, airway obstruction, shock, seizure disorders, bleeding, eye injuries, and burns. The students train and receive certification in CPR and an American Red Cross First Aid Certificate.

Dental Office Management - 1 credit DA-25
This is a course which provides the student with an overview of office management and business skills. Students are acquainted with telephone techniques, appointment book control, insurance forms, and dental ethics and jurisprudence. There is an external rotation to private local dental practices for observation of the office management.

Oral/Written Communications and Basic Behavioral Concepts - 1 credit DA-26
This course will prepare the student in oral communication within the dental setting for patient education, proper communication skills for telephone conversation, and basic skills of daily communication use. The student will also receive mentoring in the written communications. Emphasis will be placed upon behavioral concepts of patient psychology and personal issues.

Elizabeth M. Crutchfield, NYSLCDA
Clinical Instructor
Dental Assisting Program
CDA: Suffolk Community College, Selden, NY
Education: New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY
Health Occupations/Occupational Education
Additional: Clinical Instructor - Dental Assisting Program, SUNY at Stony Brook, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
E-Mail: Elizabeth.Crutchfield@sunysb.edu

Lisa A. Borzumato, NYSLCDA
Technical Assistant
Dental Assisting Program
DA: Dental Assisting Program, SUNY at Stony Brook, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
Additional: Suffolk Community College, Selden, NY
E-Mail: Lisa.Borzumato@sunysb.edu