Contents: The dental assisting profession: history of dentistry -- The professional dental assistant -- The dental healthcare team -- Dental ethics -- Dentistry and the law -- Sciences in dentistry: General anatomy -- General physiology -- Oral embryology and histology -- Head and neck anatomy -- Landmarks of the face and oral cavity -- Overview of the dentitions -- Tooth morphology -- Oral health and prevention of dental disease -- Dental caries -- Periodontal disease -- Preventive dentistry -- Nutrition -- Oral pathology -- Infection prevention in dentistry -- Microbiology -- Disease transmission and infection prevention -- Principles and techniques of disinfection -- Principles and techniques of instrument processing and sterilization -- Occupational health and safety -- Regulatory and advisory agencies -- Chemical and waste management -- Dental unit waterlines -- Ergonomics -- Patient information and assessment: Vital signs -- Oral diagnosis and treatment planning -- The special needs and medically compromised patient -- Principles of pharmacology -- Assisting in a medical emergency -- Foundation of clinical emergency: The dental office -- Delivering dental care -- Dental hand instruments -- Dental handpieces and accessories -- Moisture control -- Anesthesia and pain control -- Radiographic imaging: Foundations of radiography, radiographic equipment and radiologic safety -- Digital imaging, dental film and processing radiographs -- Legal issues, quality assurance and infection prevention -- Intraoral imaging -- Extraoral imaging -- Dental materials: Restorative and esthetic dental materials -- Dental liners, bases and bonding systems -- Dental cements -- Impression materials -- Laboratory materials and procedures -- Assisting in comprehensive dental care --Fixed prosthodontics -- Provisional coverage -- Removable prosthodontics -- Dental implants -- Endodontics -- Periodontics -- Oral and maxilloficial surgery -- Pediatric dentistry -- Coronal polishing -- Dental sealants -- Orthodontics -- Dental admininstration and communication skills --