A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
In this first lesson, we’ll set up a dental office that will give us a chance to explore the types of dental careers and see how staff members work together. You'll take a tour of the office facilities, meet the members of the staff, and look at a sample daily schedule. Viewing a sample schedule gives you a chance to see what happens in both the administrative and clinical areas. You'll also find out what happens before the first patient arrives to ensure that the day runs smoothly. Your first lesson will give you a real insider's look at everything that goes on behind the scenes, and you'll soon be ready to jump into patient care.
Friday - Lesson 02
During your second lesson, you'll start learning how people in a dental office communicate using terminology that makes the job easier and improves accuracy. We’ll look at the importance of choosing a dentist who fits a patient's unique needs. Using dental terms, we'll begin exploring dental disease, as well as prevention methods that can help preserve smiles for a lifetime.
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
Today we'll focus on the mouth: You'll learn about gum disease, its symptoms, and its diagnosis. You'll also learn techniques to prevent the leading cause of tooth loss. Throughout the lesson, we’ll continue to build your dental vocabulary. We'll finish the lesson by exploring good brushing and flossing techniques that will keep your future patients smiling for years to come.
Friday - Lesson 04
In the first of our career-specific lessons, you'll see what it's like to be a dentist. We'll start by exploring what a dentist does and what a dentist's day is like. Then we’ll examine which characteristics make a good dentist, and we'll look at the benefits and challenges of dentistry. Think you’d like to be a dentist? You’ll find out the educational requirements to practice, and we'll introduce you to the variety of specialties from which to choose.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
In Lesson 5, you'll walk a mile in the shoes of a dental hygienist. You’ll get a firsthand account of the benefits and challenges of practicing dental hygiene. Think you’d like to be a hygienist? We'll explore the educational requirements to work in the field and talk about the differences between a two-year and a four-year program.
Friday - Lesson 06
Today you'll learn about dental assistants and their contribution to the dental team. By following our dental assistants through their morning in the office, we’ll see what they do, both with patients and behind the scenes, to keep the office running efficiently. We’ll also look at the education you'll need to enter the profession as well as achieve certified status.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
In Lesson 7, we'll examine the work of the dental lab technician. You’ll get a peek at the wide variety of projects the lab technician works to create, including both restorative and orthodontic appliances, and you'll see how the appliances affect patients. You’ll hear what the job is like from a dental lab technician, and you'll learn what education the career requires and what kind of certification is available.
Friday - Lesson 08
In this lesson, we'll focus on the business side of a dental practice. You'll meet the staff members who manage the financial security of the practice, and we’ll explore patient scheduling and patient privacy regulations. We'll take a look at a variety of tasks that the administrative staff handles to ensure the overall success of the practice.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
During Lesson 9, you'll have a chance to create a patient record as we investigate how accurate communication is achieved in the dental office. We’ll review a patient health history, and you'll learn the basics of charting existing and necessary dental work in the mouth. Finally, we'll explore how computers are making practices more efficient.
Friday - Lesson 10
How can you make the best impression when you’re interviewing for a job in a dental office? What can you do to inspire confidence in patients even before they enter the treatment room? In this lesson, you’ll learn how to project a winning, professional image that will help you succeed in your new line of work. We’ll also explore the equipment, procedures, and practices that will keep you healthy and safe throughout a long, successful career.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
Dentistry has come a long way in the past few decades. We'll do a quick history lesson to help you understand the changes in the industry since the mid-20th century, and we'll explore why dentistry offers some of the fastest-growing careers in health care. We’ll research the growth of each career in the dental office and discover which jobs offer the greatest opportunities over the next few years. Finally, we'll take a look at what kinds of people are pursuing dental careers and who will be most in demand in the coming years.
Friday - Lesson 12
In your final lesson, we'll look at new products and techniques in the dental world, some of which are already available in dental practices, and some that you might see in the future. Scientists and researchers are constantly learning more about how oral health affects overall health, and you'll find out what recent studies show. We'll also explore an emerging new dental career that aims to fill current gaps in care. Finally, you'll return to our dental office and see how the staff members we've been working with wrap up the day.