Get the 4-1-1 on fourhanded dentistry
The dental practice centers on the patient, and as a chairside assistant you’ll work alongside the dentist to provide value before, during and after the patient exam. Working chairside involves everything from collecting preliminary patient data and providing patient education to applying four-handed dental assisting technique and maintaining the field of operation. You help the dentist and the patient when you know the proper instruments and dental materials in preparing the armamentarium and how to correctly set up trays for procedures. Our DANB GC Review Part I covers all of these important topics and walks you through patient scenarios related to general chairside assisting. It is a great primer to begin your preparation for the DANB GC exam.
The course is an interactive online learning experience broken down into six course modules. You may take one subject at a time or all six at once — how you divide up the course to complete it within your six-month access period is totally up to you. Before, during and after the course, you will complete learner assessments, so you can continually check your progress. You may also go back and review any part of the course at any time and retake your post-course assessment* to make sure you are ready for the GC exam.
*Questions are not from actual DANB exams, and completing the review course does not guarantee that you will pass the DANB GC exam.
Course credentials
Subject Matter Experts:
- Jackie Krueger, CDA, RDA
- Joan C. Martin, CDA, RDA, M.A. Ed.
- Karin Orosz, CDA
Creation date: January 2012
Updated: October 2015; September 2018
Date of next review: September 2021
AGD Code: 10
DANB exam prep: General Chairside Assisting exam

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Strengthen your skill set
Completing the DANB GC Review Part I is a great way to increase your skill set and strengthen your role within the dental practice.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of basic oral and dental anatomy, physiology and morphology
- Identify the procedures involved in performing a preliminary examination
- Implement charting and treatment documentation that adheres to HIPAA and other legal standards
- Prepare for and understand how to collect or assist with the collection of diagnostic data
- Understand how to prepare for and integrate four-handed dentistry techniques when assisting with patient procedures
- Identify techniques that aid in maintaining the field of operation throughout all dental procedures
- Recognize the importance of selecting proper materials and instruments when preparing the armamentarium and setting up trays for various intraoral procedures
- Understand how to assist with various general dentistry procedures, including prophylaxis, fluoride application, placement of sealants and desensitization
- Understand how to prepare for and assist with cavity preparation and restoration
- Demonstrate how to deliver pre- and post-treatment patient instructions
- Demonstrate ways to manage patients, including apprehensive patients and patients with special needs
- Demonstrate how to provide patient education and oral health management
- Demonstrate how to prevent and manage emergency situations
- Understand legal concepts related to patient recordkeeping, records retention and records transfer
- Understand the concepts of implied and informed consent
Test out our course
Check out our DANB GC Review Part I demo – and see how simple continuing your education can be.
See what others are saying
Read what those who have completed the DANB GC Review Part I course say about their experience.
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Review of this course:
This is such a wonderful way to complete my continuing education! Just love the flexibility and ability to do it at "my leisure".
Review of this course:
Great help in preparing yourself for the CDA.
Review of this course:
It was great!Learned lots.
Review of this course:
I really do find the info helpful, but the course needs to be more diversified in format. I cannot access it on my phone, tablet, not ChromeBook, which unfortunately renders all of the courses I paid for somewhat useless.