The Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) Continuing Education Course 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 CE course will provide detailed knowledge of the tasks and skills needed for dental assisting in a dental setting. The CE course 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 Course HERE.
The purpose of the Registered Dental Assisting Continuing Education Course 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 course 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.
1. Is the course offered online or in person?
The Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Course is a hybrid course that combines online learning with in-person didactic and hands-on instruction. Online coursework is assigned weekly and must be completed during the designated week. In-person didactic and clinical sessions are held once each week.
2. How do I apply?
Martha Gale
Director of Continuing Education
Martha.Gale@LMUnet.edu
3. What is the duration of the course?
The course spans 16 weeks:
4. What certifications will I receive, and how do I become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)?
Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive certificates of completion in the following Tennessee Board of Dentistry-approved expanded functions:
Please note: Completion of this course does not automatically register you as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). Students are responsible for independently applying for registration through the Tennessee Board of Dentistry and paying any applicable state fees.
5. What is the cost of the course?
Course Fee: $4,800
Financial aid is not available for this course.
6. What is included in the course fee?
The course fee includes:
Please note: State licensing and certification fees are not included.
7. What online platform and materials are used?
The course utilizes the following educational resources:
Modern Dental Assisting Textbook
SIMTICS Online Learning Platform
8. What is the grading policy?
Students must complete all required SIMTICS modules, pass online exams with a minimum score of 75%, and pass all clinical competencies. One remediation opportunity is provided for failed exams or competencies
9. What are the attendance requirements?
Attendance is required for all scheduled in-person sessions.
10. What supplies do I need?
Students should bring:
11. What are the in-person class hours?
In-person sessions are held one day per week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The scheduled day (Wednesday or Thursday) will be communicated to students before the course begins.
12. Where are in-person clinical sessions held?
Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine
1705 St. Mary Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
(Located in “LMU Tower”; clinics are on floors 2, 6, and 7)
13. What are the externship requirements?
Students must complete 80 hours of supervised clinical externship during the final six weeks of the program. Externship hours are preferably completed at the LMU College of Dental Medicine clinics but may also be completed at another approved dental office with prior written approval from the Course Director.
Please note: Certificates of completion will not be issued until all of the following requirements have been met:
14. Where can I find additional information or ask questions?
For additional information about the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Course, including upcoming class dates, the online application, and program updates, please visit the program website:
LMU Registered Dental Assisting Course
https://www.lmunet.edu/college-of-dental-medicine/registered-dental-assisting
If you have additional questions, please contact:
Students must be 18 years of age or older before admittance into the course 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 course, contact Dental Assisting Course Director Vivian Diaz at Vivian.Diaz@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.
