The Registered Dental Assisting Program (RDA) curriculum is structured based on a minimum of one hundred and sixteen (116) hours instructional hours. The course will include fourteen (14) hours on the subject of dental radiology. The program will provide detailed knowledge of the tasks and skills needed for dental assisting in a dental setting. The program includes a didactic section and a clinical section. The courses will be completed online, with one day at the CDM facilities for in-person, hands-on instructions. Clinical experience is provided under the supervision of qualified faculty. Students will be evaluated for competency.
Apply for the LMU-CDM Registered Dental Assisting Program HERE.
The purpose of the Registered Dental Assisting Program is to provide the community with Registered Dental Assistants who can work with the dental team to attain the shared goal of providing optimum care for patients. The program is committed to providing students opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills while utilizing critical thinking as an integral part of the process as well.
Is the course online or in-person?
Both. The Registered Dental Assisting Program is an online course with in-person, hands-on learning one day a week. (Wednesday). You will have online coursework with weekly chapters assigned that will need to be completed during the week that they are assigned. You may work on the assigned chapters at your own pace; however, they will need to be completed before you begin the next week’s assignments.
Who should I contact with any questions about the program?
You may contact the Director of Dental Assisting Program, Jessica Lovely, by email at Jessica.lovely@LMUnet.edu or the Director of Continuing Education, Martha Gale, by email at martha.gale@LMUnet.edu
How long is the program?
The length of the course is 16 weeks. The first 10 weeks will be the online course with the remaining 6 weeks being externship. You will be required to complete 80 hours of externship to complete the Lincoln Memorial University Registered Dental Assisting Program successfully. We highly encourage you to complete your externship hours in our clinic, however, if you would like to complete your hours at another office, you may do so with written approval from the Program Director, Jessica Lovely.
How do I apply to the program?
You will need to fill out an application for the program and send in an Official Copy of your high school transcripts to Ms. Martha Gale via email at martha.gale@LMUnet.edu The website to find the application is https://www.lmunet.edu/college-of-dental-medicine/registered-dental-assisting
What Certifications will I receive with the Registered Dental Assisting Program?
Upon successful completion of corresponding exams and the course as a whole, you will receive certifications in Radiology, Monitoring Nitrous Oxide, Sealants, and Coronal Polishing. You will also obtain your certification in CPR.
How much does the program cost?
The cost of the Registered Dental Assisting Program is $3,500. We do not accept financial aid. You may make weekly payments ($218.75) or pay in full. If you choose to make weekly payments, those payments will need to be paid before the Wednesday in-person clinics. Please use this link to make any payment: https://alumni.lmunet.edu/RDA
What does the cost of the Registered Dental Assisting Program include?
The Registered Dental Assisting Program costs include your online course, one scrub set, and one lab jacket. (The lab jacket is to be the same color as your scrub set.) You will receive your assigned scrub color on the first day of the in-person clinic. It does not include the cost of obtaining your license.
What online book/program is used?
The online portion of the course will be through Evolve. You will receive an access code to the program from your Program Director before the start of the course. You will be responsible for submitting assignments and checking for announcements through Evolve. The online modules will be utilizing Dental Assisting Online for Modern Dental Assisting.
What is the grading system?
To be successful in the program, students will need to receive a grade of 75 or higher on each assignment/quiz/exam and have a cumulative average of 75 or higher. If a student is unsuccessful on an assignment, quiz, or exam, the student may retake an assignment, quiz, or exam up to two additional times.
Where is the in-person clinic?
The in-person clinic is located at 1705 St. Mary Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. This is also known as the “LMU Tower.” The clinic is on the 6th floor. It is called The Center for Research and Education in Technology.
Where should I park?
Parking is located directly across the street from the building. There is a large sign with “Lincoln Memorial University Parking.” Please do not park in the parking garage as that is reserved for faculty.
How long will I be in class?
The hours of the in-person clinic will be 9:00 AM-5:00 PM on Wednesdays.
How do I gain access to the Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine building?
You will need to call security to enter the building each week. Please have your cell phone readily available to call the security number located at the entrance of the building. You will receive a name badge on your first day. These will need to be worn at all times that you are on campus.
What is the graduation rate?
The graduation rate of the Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine Registered Dental Assisting Program is 100%.
How do I get my Registered Dental Assisting License?
This course is set up to give you a certificate only. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a license from the State of Tennessee Board of Dentistry to work as a Registered Dental Assistant. To do so, you may go ahead and get started on your application.
Go to this website:
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/dentistry-board/dentistry-board/applications.html
Scroll down to under "Dental Assistants."
Click on Application for Registration as a Dental Assistant (Paper Application PH-3166).
Sign up for a New User and follow all prompts.
You will need various forms and payment for each certification you want on your license. Radiology, Nitrous Oxide Monitoring, Sealants, and Coronal Polishing. You can then send your completion paperwork from Lincoln Memorial University in with your application. You will also need two letters of recommendation.
YOU MUST APPLY FOR YOUR LICENSE AND GET THESE DOCUMENTS INTO THE STATE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF COURSE COMPLETION!!!!!!!
You will also have to take a jurisprudence exam. It should be sent to you from the Tennessee Board of Dentistry once you apply for licensing.
Students must be 18 years of age or older before admittance into the program and must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Any conviction must be explained to the Board of Dentistry with their application for registration and all court documents regarding the conviction must be submitted. The Board of Dentistry reviews submitted court documents with the application for registration and may deny registration or require an appearance before the Board of Dentistry before deciding to issue or deny the registration.
Upon completing the course, the student MUST pass the competency examination on the material covered each week before continuing to the material for the next week. Remediation will be offered to students who do not pass the competency before the start of the next week.
For more information about the program, contact Dental Assisting Program Director Jessica Lovely at jessica.lovely@LMUnet.edu
I. Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Identify the members of the dental health team and describe the responsibilities of each member.
2. Identify and describe the dental office setting, including a review of equipment commonly found in treatment areas
3. Describe and discuss the ethics and jurisprudence associated with being a dental assistant
4. Discuss applied psychology used in a dental setting
5. List and describe communication skills needed in a dental setting
6. Identify and describe teeth and supporting tissues
7. List and describe the assistant’s role while assisting with soft tissue oral examination
8. List and describe the assistant’s role while assisting with dental charting
9. Describe and discuss the microbiology associated with the dental setting
10. Describe and discuss the dental assistant’s role pertaining to oral pathology
11. To identify and describe the use and care of various dental materials
12. List and describe the dental assistant’s role in preventive dentistry
13. Identify and discuss methods of disease transmission and infection control
14. Describe the dental assistant’s role with special needs and disabled patients
15. Identify and discuss medical emergencies that may occur in a dental setting and how to manage them
16. Describe the use of pharmacology and pain control
17. Identify and describe the purpose and use of dental instruments
18. Describe and demonstrate the dental assistant’s role in delivering dental care and moisture control during a dental appointment
19. Discuss the proper use and method for using the dental dam
20. Describe and demonstrate the dental assistant’s role in oral diagnosis and treatment planning
21. Define and discuss what is meant by general dentistry and restorations and describe the dental assistant’s role
22. Define and discuss what is meant by pediatric Dentistry and describe the dental assistant’s role
23. Define and discuss what is meant by orthodontics and describe the dental assistant’s role
24. Define and discuss what is meant by periodontics and describe the dental assistant’s role
25. Define and discuss what is meant by endodontics and describe the dental assistant’s role
26. Define and discuss what is meant by fixed prosthodontics and describe the dental assistant’s role
27. Define and discuss what is meant by removable prosthodontics and describe the dental assistant’s role
28. Define and discuss what is meant by oral surgery and describe the dental assistant’s role
II. The student upon completion of the program content will be able to describe, discuss, and demonstrate the dental assistant’s role in the following dental assisting skills and functions:
1. Maintaining patient treatment records
2. Reviewing and recording medical and dental histories
3. Taking and recording vital signs
4. Seating and dismissing patients
5. Preparing tray set-ups for operative procedures
6. Managing infection and hazard control protocols consistent with current guidelines
7. Operating oral evacuation systems and air/water syringes
8. Maintaining a clear field of vision including various isolation techniques
9. Performing a variety of instrument transfers
10. Utilizing appropriate chairside assistant ergonomics
11. Providing patient preventive education and oral hygiene instruction
12. Identifying and responding to medical and dental emergencies
13. Providing pre-and post-operative instructions prescribed by a dentist
14. Applying topical anesthetic and desensitizing agents
15. Placing and removing a rubber dental dam
16. Applying fluoride agents
17. Applying bases, liners, and bonding agents
18. Fabricating, placing, and removing provisional restorations
19. Placing and selecting matrix retainers, matrix bands, and wedges
20. Removing excess cement
21. Fabricating bleaching trays, mouth guards, and custom trays
22. Taking preliminary impressions (alginate impressions)
23. Placing and removing retraction materials
24. Removing sutures
25. Performing pulp vitality tests
26. Placing and removing the periodontal dressing
27. Performing orthodontic functions as stated in Rule 0460-04-.08
III. The certification course shall admit only those registered dental assistants who are currently registered pursuant to Rule 0460-04-.01 (2). It is the responsibility of the course owner/director to ensure that only currently registered dental assistants are admitted to the course.
The dental radiology portion of the RDA program includes instruction in all the following subject matters:
1. Expose and evaluate
a. Select appropriate radiographic technique.
b. Select an appropriate radiographic film to examine, view, or survey conditions, teeth, or landmarks.
c. Select appropriate equipment for radiographic techniques
d. Select patient management techniques before, during, and after radiographic exposures.
2. Radiation Safety
a. Patient
b. Operator
3. Quality Assurance
a. Identify exposure errors and ways to avoid these errors in future exposures.
b. Identify processing errors and ways to avoid these errors.
c. Correctly mount and label radiographs for diagnostic assessment
The program will have four (4) examinations - one (1) covering general dental assisting knowledge material, one (1) covering the dental assisting skills and functions, one (1) covering dental radiology information, and one (1) comprehensive examination.
Upon completion of the course, students shall be evaluated by four (4) written examinations. The passing grade shall be seventy percent (70%). If the student initially fails the comprehensive written examination, the exam may be taken no more than two (2) additional times before the course must be retaken and the exam retaken. The examinations shall determine competency in dental radiology and the other stated dental assisting skills and knowledge.
