• Comprehensive coverage makes this your single, start-to-finish source for dental assisting training.
• A highly approachable writing style presents the latest information and procedures in a way that makes it easy to understand and apply the material.
• Concise chapters presented within short parts move from profession basics and sciences to infection control, safety, clinical dentistry, radiography, materials, specialty dental practice, and dental office administration.
• Superb, full-color illustrations and photographs show procedures, equipment, and instruments.
• Illustrated, step-by-step procedures show the skills that dental assistants must master, detailing for each the goal, equipment and supplies needed, chronological steps, and rationales.
• Expanded Functions procedures boxes describe special dental assisting procedures allowed only in certain states.
• Procedure icons alert you to issues relating to core procedures, e.g., that you should make notes in the patient's record, don personal protective equipment, or watch for moisture contamination.
• Key terms are accompanied by phonetic pronunciations, highlighted within the text, and defined in boxes on the same or facing page.
• Critical thinking questions end each chapter with mini-case scenarios and application-style questions.
• Learning and performance outcomes in each chapter set goals for what you will accomplish and also serve as checkpoints for comprehension, skills mastery, and study tools for exam preparation.
• Summary tables and boxes make it easy to review key concepts and procedures.
• Recall boxes appear after sections of text and include questions to ensure that you understand the material.
• CDC boxes cite the latest recommendations for infection control and summarize regulations.
• Eye to the Future boxes introduce cutting-edge research, future trends, and topics.
• Legal and Ethical Implications boxes focus on the behaviors that you will need to practice to protect yourself, your patients, and the practice for which you work.
• Patient Education boxes summarize content within the context of patient education take-away points.
• A glossary provides a quick and handy way to look up terminology, with chapter references indicating where terms are introduced and discussed within chapters.
• Interactive Dental Office program on the companion Evolve website provides 25 case studies with integrated radiographic mounting and dental charting exercises to help you problem-solve your way through a wide variety of dental conditions and procedures; games help you review and study in the areas of pathology, radiation safety, business office activities, workplace safety, oral anatomy, and dental instruments.
• Canadian Content Corner on the Evolve site highlights Canadian-specific dental information.
• A student workbook corresponds to the textbook and offers review and practice of essential tasks that dental assistants perform every day, plus competency skill sheets and detachable flashcards for on-the-go review. Sold separately.

New in this edition:

• NEW content addresses the electronic patient record, impact of the new health care law, preventive techniques, and the new hazard communication standard.
• NEW, full-color photos show the latest technology, instruments, and procedures.
• NEW video on the companion Evolve website includes 10 new and 20 reshot video clips of dental assisting procedures, focusing on prevention, dental materials, and imaging; the Evolve website also includes review questions and answers to test your readiness for clinical experiences.
• EXPANDED! Online chapter quizzes on the Evolve companion website provide additional opportunities to assess your comprehension, along with rationales to reinforce concepts.