Expanding their skills

Several area dental assistants were on Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s campus Nov. 15 for the hands-on portion and final day of continuing education to learn applications of pit and fissure sealants. It was the first time Texas A&M College of Dentistry offered Pits and Fissure Sealants for Dental Assistants Certification, and the first two sessions were interactive webinars earlier in the week.

Among their many duties, dental assistants administer sealants – thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars – under the supervision of dentists. The sealants serve as protective barriers against bacteria that cause decay and cavities.

Drs. Amal Noureldin, clinical professor and director of the predoctoral program in public health sciences, and Raghad Obeidat, clinical faculty in public health sciences, presented the course.

The course aims to alleviate preventive care gaps, enhance the dental teamwork flow and improve access to dental care services – especially in underserved communities. To learn more about the course and dental assisting, go to Dental assistants’ scope of care is broad and growing  – Insights.

“Given the positive feedback and the interest we’ve already received from several other providers, I can easily see this course becoming a recurring offering,” Noureldin said. “Perhaps every six months, with even more valuable content added as we continue to refine and expand it.”