Did your health science program just add a new course for dental assisting? Or are you looking to update your current dental assistant curriculum?
If so, you probably need new materials to help cover your standards and prepare your students for their future careers.
While we provide a health science curriculum used in thousands of CTE programs, we don’t currently offer a dental assisting curriculum. (Wondering why? Find out here.)
To help you find the right materials for your dental assisting classes, we’ve put together a list of popular options teachers like you recommend.
The top dental assisting textbooks for CTE health science programs are:
- Darby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene, 9th Edition
- Modern Dental Assisting, 13th Edition
- The Administrative Dental Assistant, 5th Edition
- Dental Materials, 4th Edition
- Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach, 5th Edition
1. Darby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene, 9th Edition
- Authors: Christine M. Blue, BSDH, MS
- Copyright: 2022
- Retail Price: $86.00 Textbook, $66.00 eBook
Darby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene is a dental assisting textbook focused on helping students pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).
This book contains 22 chapters:
- Preparing for National, Regional, and State Dental Hygiene Board Examinations
- Histology and Embryology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Head and Neck Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Oral Structures, Dental Anatomy, and Root Morphology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- General Pathology
- Oral Pathology
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Prevention of Disease Transmission in Oral Health Care
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Nutritional Counseling
- Biomaterials
- Periodontics
- Dental Hygiene Process of Care
- Strategies for Oral Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control
- Instrumentation for Client Assessment and Care
- Management of Pain and Anxiety
- Dental Hygiene Care for Clients with Special Care Needs
- Community Oral Health Planning
- Medical Emergencies
- Ethical and Legal Issues
In addition to the reading, you’ll find chapter review questions, case studies, and four computerized practice exams that simulate the NBDHE test-taking experience.
Darby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene is an excellent option for teachers focused on preparing their students for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
2. Modern Dental Assisting, 13th Edition
- Authors: Doni L. Bird, CDA, RDA, RDH, MA and Debbie S. Robinson, CDA, MS
- Copyright: 2021
- Retail Price: $147.00 Textbook, $35.00 Instructor's Guide, $60.00 Student Workbook, $112.00 eBook, $102.00 Online Courses
Modern Dental Assisting is a dental assisting textbook that covers various topics, from the latest technological advancements to how cultural diversity relates to patient care and more.
The book has 64 chapters that are divided into ten sections:
- The Dental Assisting Profession
- Sciences in Dentistry
- Oral Health and Prevention of Dental Disease
- Infection Prevention in Dentistry
- Patient Information and Assessment
- Foundation of Clinical Dentistry
- Radiographic Imaging
- Dental Materials
- Assisting in Comprehensive Dental Care
- Dental Administration and Communication Skills
You’ll find more than 70 procedural videos, Dentrix practice management software, and an Interactive Dental Office program with in-depth case studies.
Modern Dental Assisting is a great resource to teach a broader approach to dental assisting due to the wide range of topics included.
3. The Administrative Dental Assistant, 5th Edition
- Authors: Linda J Gaylor, RDA, BPA, MEd
- Copyright: 2021
- Retail Price: $91.00 Textbook, $50.00 Instructor's Guide, $41.00 Student Workbook, $69.00 eBook
The Administrative Dental Assistant is a textbook that covers the daily functions of a dental business office, such as scheduling, record keeping, and insurance processing.
Each of these dental assistant books has 18 chapters that are divided into five sections:
- Introduction to the Dental Profession
- Communication Skills: Principles and Practices
- Managing Dental Office Systems
- Managing Dental Office Finances
- Managing Your Career
With this resource, you’ll find an ancillary package that provides electronic resources that enhance your teaching along with access to Dentrix practice management software.
While The Administrative Dental Assistant is a valuable resource to help your students understand dental office functions better, you will likely need to supplement it with more in-depth content on clinical procedures.
4. Dental Materials, 4th Edition
- Authors: W. Stephan Eakle, DDS, FADM and Kimberly G. Bastin, CDA, EFDA, CRDH, MS
- Copyright: 2020
- Retail Price: $87.00 Textbook, $25.00 Instructor's Guide, $67.00 eBook
Dental Materials: Clinical Applications for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists is a hands-on resource for teaching how dental materials fit into day-to-day clinical practice applications.
In each of these dental assistant books, you’ll find 19 chapters:
- Introduction to Dental Materials
- Oral Environment and Patient Considerations
- Physical Properties of Dental Materials
- General Handling and Safety of Dental Materials in the Dental Office
- Principles of Bonding
- Composites, Glass Ionomers, and Compomers
- Preventive and Desensitizing Materials
- Teeth Whitening Materials and Procedures
- Dental Ceramics
- Dental Amalgam
- Metals and Alloys
- Dental Implants
- Abrasion, Finishing, Polishing, and Cleaning
- Dental Cement
- Impression Materials
- Gypsum and Wax Products
- Polymers for Prosthetic Dentistry
- Provisional Restorations
- Preventive and Corrective Oral Appliances
This dental assisting textbook also includes a companion website, step-by-step procedures, practice opportunities for the classroom, and NBDHE test prep resources.
Dental Materials is an excellent resource if you are looking for a curriculum that aligns with the NBDHE Exam with built-in practice opportunities for students.
5. Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach, 5th Edition
- Authors: Donna J. Phinney, CDA, MEd and Judy Halstead
- Copyright: 2018
- Retail Price: $221.00 Textbook, $39.00 limited access eBook, $83.00 Student Workbook, $100.00 Digital Platform
Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach is one of the most comprehensive dental assistant books for teaching CTE classes.
The textbook covers a wide variety of content - from the basics to advanced clinical skills, including procedures, equipment, and patient and employee safety standards.
The textbook includes 41 chapters:
- Introduction to the Dental Profession
- Psychology, Communication, and Multicultural Interaction
- Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Oral Health and Preventative Techniques
- Nutrition
- General Anatomy and Physiology
- Head and Neck Anatomy
- Embryology and Histology
- Tooth Morphology
- Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Management of Hazardous Materials (Occupations Health and Safety Administration Standards (OSHA))
- Preparation for Patient Care
- Dental Charting
- Pharmacology
- Emergency Management
- Introduction to the Dental Office and Basic Chairside Assisting
- Basic Chairside Instruments, Tray Systems, and Instrument Transfer
- Isolation and Moisture Control, Including Dental Dam
- Anesthetic and Sedation
- Introduction to Dental Radiography and Equipment
- Produce and Evaluate Dental Radiographs
- Extraoral and Digital Radiography
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Dental Implants
- Oral Pathology
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Dental Sealants
- Periodontics
- Coronal Polish
- Fixed Prosthodontics and Gingival Retraction
- Computerized Impression and Restorative Systems
- Cosmetic Dentistry and Whitening
- Removable Prosthodontics
- Dental Cements, Bases, and Liners
- Restorative Materials and Dental Dam
- Laboratory Materials and Techniques
- Dental Office Management
- Employment Strategies
Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach is a good choice for teachers looking to cover a wide range of topics with one resource - especially if you’re able to purchase digital access for your students as well.
Looking for More Than Just Dental Assisting Textbooks?
Though it’s impossible to review each of the dental assistant books out there, this article can give you some direction based on books we hear about from teachers like you.
If you’re like most dental assisting instructors, you likely teach other health science courses.
That means you have a lot on your plate when it comes to planning, teaching, grading, and preparing students for certification exams!
Visit our Learning Center to find hundreds of articles and teaching materials to save you time when teaching CTE health science courses:
