Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for DA 131 archive revision 202601

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Effective Term:
Winter 2026

Course Number:
DA 131
Course Title:
Dental Materials I (Lab)
Credit Hours:
2
Lecture Hours:
0
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
60

Course Description

Provides laboratory experience and skill development in dental assisting materials and laboratory equipment. Covers the proper handling of dental materials including gypsum products, restorative materials, impression materials, dental cements, dental bases, and provisional crown fabrication during manipulation and application. Includes an introduction to CAD/CAM technology in dentistry.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry in anticipation of transferring skills while assisting chairside.

2. Perform the role and duties of a dental assistant in a dental lab while adhering to laboratory equipment policies and safety standards.

3. Recognize and follow established protocol for preventing disease transmission in the dental office and laboratory.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Attend all laboratory sessions

  • Complete laboratory worksheets and laboratory projects

  • Demonstrate compliance with safety policies at all times

  • Complete objectives and a lab final

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes:

  • Dental Materials

  • Professionalism

  • Communication

  • Teamwork

Concepts:

  • Safety in the laboratory, OHSA training in the handling of hazardous materials

  • Manipulation of alginate impression materials

  • Manipulation of gypsum products

  • Manipulation of dental amalgam

  • Manipulation of composite resins

  • Manipulation of elastomeric impression materials

  • Manipulation of dental cements

  • Manipulation of dental waxes

Issues: 

  • Time management

  • Organization

  • Laboratory Safety

Skills:

  • Understand the concepts of laboratory safety and acquire the habits to ensure your safety and that of others working with you
  • Describe and adhere to laboratory policies and safety standards
  • Locate and identify all emergency and safety equipment available in the lab
  • Locate, identify and operate all safety equipment in the lab
  • Demonstrate work habits designed to promote a safe environment and prevent disease transmission in the laboratory
  • Recognize the parts, assembly, and manipulation of a tofflemire retainer and demonstrate placement on a prep retention 
  • Describe and demonstrate the use, manipulation and placement of dental amalgam on a typodont using a prep retention
  • Recognize the characteristics of and demonstrate the mixing, handling and placement of a composite resin on a typodont using a prep retention
  • Describe the characteristics, handling and storage of alginate impression materials and demonstrate the procedures necessary to take an alginate impression
  • Demonstrate the use of utility wax to extend the borders of an impression tray
  • Describe the characteristics of and demonstrate the mixing and handling of various elastomeric impression materials
  • Recognize the variety of gypsum products used in dentistry and demonstrate the use and manipulation of each
  • Describe the characteristics of dental cements and demonstrate the mixing and handling of various cements
  • Demonstrate the correct operation on an intraoral scanner by scanning a case on a typodont 
  • Demonstrate proper set up, placement, and removal of a rubber dam on a typodont
  • Demonstrate charting of existing restorations, conditions, and planned treatment on paper and using dental software

Related Instruction

Computation
Hours: 30

Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry in anticipation of transferring skills while assisting chairside.

  • Use ratios, weights, and measurements of lab materials to create manipulable materials used with dental patients.
  • Appropriately mix the materials.
  • Track the time that it takes for the materials to set properly.

Communication
Hours: 7

  1. Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry in anticipation to transfer skills while assisting chairside.

  2. Perform the role and duties of a dental assistant in a dental lab while adhering to laboratory equipment policies and safety standards.

  3. Execute work habits designed to prevent disease transmission in the dental office and laboratory.

Classroom discussion on daily lab results enabling an exchange of information relating to the work of a dental assistant and respect of others' viewpoints.

Human Relations
Hours: 5

  1. Demonstrate the proper use, manipulation, application, and clean-up procedures for dental materials used in general dentistry in anticipation to transfer skills while assisting chairside.

  2. Perform the role and duties of a dental assistant in a dental lab while adhering to laboratory equipment policies and safety standards.

  3. Execute work habits designed to prevent disease transmission in the dental office and laboratory.

  • Students work in teams on lab assignments utilizing skills and concepts on team work.
  • Direct instruction presented on completing peer evaluations for completed lab assignments.
  • Students complete peer evaluations at the completion of lab assignments.