ORTHODONTICS ASSISTANT COURSE

Course Outline
• The topics listed below are covered in the Academy of Orthodontic Assisting – Level 1 program.
• 1. Oral and Dental Anatomy
– Oral anatomy
– Dental anatomy
– Tooth development
– Tooth numbering
– Tooth surfaces and directions
– Malocclusions
• 2. What is Orthodontics?
– Introduction
– Dentistry and dental specialties
– Types of orthodontic treatment
– Stages of treatment
– Orthodontic instruments
– How teeth move
• 3. The Orthodontic Appliance
– Basic orthodontic appliance parts
– Elastomeric ligatures
– Steel ligatures
– Intraoral auxiliaries
– Non-traditional orthodontic appliances
• 4. Archwire Selection
– Placement and termination
– Archwire selection
• 5. Headgears and Elastics
– Extra-oral auxiliaries – Headgears
– Intra-oral auxiliaries – Elastics
• 6. Secondary Appliances
– Categories of secondary appliances
– Introduction to appliance fabrication
– Types of appliances
• 7. Application of Orthodontic Appliances
– Separators or spacers
– Orthodontic bands
– Bonding of orthodontic appliances
• 8. Removal and Retention
– Removal of braces
– Retention
– Post-treatment procedures
• 9. Diagnostic Records
– Introduction to diagnostic records
– Impressions
– Bite registration
– Orthodontic x-ray techniques
– Photographic techniques
– Digital records
• 10. Radiation and X-ray Safety
– Introduction
– Radiation safety
– The x-ray cassette – extra-oral film
– The darkroom
• 11. Orthodontic Models
– Types of models
– Pouring models
– Separating models
– Trimming models
– Alternatives to standard study models
• 12. Patient Management
– Chair, patient, and body positioning
– Physical interaction with patients
– Checking appliances
– Patient instructions
– Charting
– Parent communication
• 13. Infection Control in Orthodontics
– What is infection control?
– Sterilization and disinfection
– Protecting our patients and ourselves
• 14. Professionalism in Orthodontics
– What to expect
– Interviews and resumes
– Professionalism in the office.

• 15.PVS Impressions
– Oral anatomy
– Uses of PVS
– Preparing for impressions
– Methods for success
– Evaluating a PVS impression
– Bite registration
• 16.Infection Control in the Orthodontic Office
– Infectious diseases
– Modes of disease transmission
– Protection agencies
– Preventing infection
– Exposure prevention
– Standard precautions
– Hand hygiene
– Personal protective equipment (PPE)
– Sterilization and disinfection
– Environmental infection control
• 17.Adjustment of Headgears and Retainers
– Adjusting wire retainers
– Adjusting and inserting retainers
– Adjusting clear retainers
– Retainer instructions for the patient
– Fitting headgear
– Headgear instructions for the patient
– Adjusting headgear
• 18.Identification of Cephalometric Landmarks
– What are cephs?
– What are landmarks based on?
– Soft tissue landmarks
– Hard tissue landmarks
– Key anatomy
– Hard tissue landmarks
– Soft and hard tissue counterparts
– Introduction to tracing cephs
• 19.Risk Management for Orthodontics
– Malpractice
– What is risk management?
– Handling an incident in the office
– Main points
– Why do people sue doctors?
• 20.The Assistant’s Role in Soft Tissue Laser Procedures
– Classification of lasers
– Orthodontic laser procedures
– Safety with lasers
– Assistant’s role during the procedures
• 21.The Assistant’s Role in Mini-Implants
– Introduction to Mini-Implants (TADs)
– The assistant’s role
– Placing TADs
– Post treatment
– Removal of mini-implants
• 22.The Biological Basis of Tooth Movement
– Review of dentoalveolar anatomy
– Influences on tooth position
– Types of tooth movement
– Advanced dental anatomy
– Components of the PDL
– Bone formation
– Overview of the tooth movement process
– Forces in tooth movement
• 23.Analyzing, Tracking, & Preventing Unnecessary Repairs & Emergencies
– Emergency vs. repair
– Effects of unnecessary repairs
– Benchmarking
– Common repairs
– Employee roles in prevention
• 24.Predictable Bonding to A-Typical Tooth Surfaces
– Bonding to a-typical tooth enamel
– General preparation
– Key terms
– Use and care of products
– Bonding to challenging enamel surfaces
– Bonding to non-enamel surfaces
– Using self-etching primer