Dental Assisting students are required to complete a minimum of 300 hours of clinical experience with more than fifty percent of the clinical assignments in general dentistry offices. Students go into their internship rotations in the Spring semester. If a student is assigned to your office, they will be interning on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays for a total of up to 16 hours per week.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an internship site for our program. Please read the following guidelines to determine if you are eligible to become an internship site.

Office Rotation Guidelines

1. The dentist and staff are willing to delegate, supervise, and evaluate the student performing the DA and RDA tasks appropriate for their practice. Coronal polish and oral inspection are mandated by the State as a requirement for accreditation. The other tasks are required as part of our accreditation by the American Dental Association.

2. The office must employ at least two auxiliaries on the days of the clinical assignment. (Two auxiliaries are defined as one chairside and one front desk assistant.) The office must not have a student from another dental assisting program in the office at the same time unless the dental office staff is increased by one per student.

3. The current clinical days are Tuesday and/or Thursday. The office may select one or both days. The student needs to complete the mandatory clinical hours; so please select your clinical days carefully to assure that your office and/or staff will be available to complete the necessary hours. The dental office is regularly scheduled to treat patients on the assigned clinical days. Occasional days for meetings, conferences, and other duties, when the dentist is not in the office, are taken into consideration, but it is expected that the student would be assigned meaningful work in the office with other staff when the dentist is absent.

4. The office staff will monitor the student’s attendance and evaluate the student’s performance. The supervising instructor will visit the office regularly for an informal oral progress report. A written report is required at the end of the assignment period from the assigned office. The reporting sheets that the office must complete will be provided by the program.
    
5. Each office will provide the following PPE items, gloves, masks, and gown/lab coat for the student. The student will provide their own protective eyewear and professional attire.
    
6. In case of illness or unavoidable delay in reaching the office, the student will telephone the office and CCSF instructor to explain the situation.

If you meet the guidelines, please complete our interest form to be added to on our email list. We typically email offices on our list in November & December with a form that must be completed to show interest in the rotations indicated. Due to the high demand for interns in San Francisco, we are not able to accommodate all requests.

The office can expect the student to have the following traditional skills:

1. Ability to identify standard instruments used in general dentistry and endodontics. During the Spring Semester, the students will be completing instruction in the other specialties of oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics.
2. Ability to properly mix the materials used in restorative dentistry. The manufacturer’s directions on direct instruction/supervision should be available for the materials used as it is impossible to introduce every brand to our students.
3. Ability to properly mix impression materials, load trays for insertion, and load impression syringe. The students have been instructed in the technique of taking alginate impressions for study models as well as pouring impressions.
4. Radiology students have the ability to take x-rays on patients, including digital, and are proficient in processing and mounting films.
5. Students have knowledge of methods of sterilization, disinfection, and infectious diseases but need instruction in your office’s “step by step” methods.
6. Current CPR certificate for Healthcare Provider, and HIPPA instruction.
7. Students are vaccinated for Hep-B, tested for TB, and are covered by the College’s healthcare plan (in case emergency treatment is necessary) and insurance.
8. Instruction in the treatment of emergencies common to dental offices is taught during the Spring Semester.
9. After a minimum orientation period, the office can expect the CCSF student to accept responsibility for all phases of dental assisting.
10. The office can expect the student to perform the duties in a professional manner, use the correct terminology when appropriate and accept constructive criticism, when necessary.