Dental assistants cleaning teeth

Dental Continuing Education Courses

College of DuPage offers certification courses to enable dental assistants and hygienists to fulfill the educational requirements as stated in Illinois law for expanded functions. Those include:

Dental Assistant: Coronal Polish and Fissure Sealant

Following the guidelines of the Illinois Dental Practice Act, this course is designed to provide participating dental assistants with the proper background knowledge and clinical experience in coronal polishing to enable them to perform this procedure in a practice setting. A written exam is required for course completion. Students must have more than 1,000 hours of clinical assisting experience to qualify.

NOTE: Participants must agree to act as a patient for coronal polishing. Each participant must follow OSHA guidelines for infection control and use of clinical Personal Protective Equipment (mask, gloves, eye-wear, and clinic gown or lab coat).

Sunday, Nov. 3
7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
BDENT-0200-001, $495
Health and Science Center (HSC), Room 1122

Contact healthcare@cod.edu for additional information.

Registration Information

Dental Assistant: Coronal Polish and Fissure Sealant Frequently Asked Questions

Dental assistants must be 18 years of age and have been working as a dental assistant for at least 1,000 hours. For example, if you are working 40 hours a week, you would need to be employed for approximately 7 months
Each dental assistant will be asked to fill out paperwork at the start of the class to verify this information.
Yes, arrive and be ready for class to start at 7:30 a.m. sharp.
On the main campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137). We will be in the Health and Science Center (HSC Room 1122), in the Dental Hygiene lab.
Yes, plan ahead in case the school cafeteria is closed.
The certificate for the Coronal Polishing portion of the class will be sent to you electronically.
After completing six sealants under observation by the supervising dentist, you are required to complete and submit verification, your certificate will then be send electronically.
A 100% refund is given with at least one (1) full business day before the start of class. 

Dental Hygiene: Four-Day Local Anesthesia Clinical Course

This four-day course satisfies the State of Illinois requirements allowing dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. Learn the skills and knowledge for safe and effective administration of local anesthesia in dental hygiene practice.

NOTE: Students must agree to receive, as well as administer, injections. Hygienists who are in the first trimester of pregnancy or at medical risk for any other reasons should seek the consent of their primary physician before registering. The guidelines for this course will follow the Illinois Dental Practice Act.

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10, and Nov. 16 and 17
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BDENT-0300-001, $999
Health and Science Center (HSC), Room 1122

Contact healthcare@cod.edu for additional information. 

Dental Hygiene: Four-Day Local Anesthesia Clinical Course Frequently Asked Questions

Students must be a currently licensed Dental Hygienists, have current CPR certification and carry professional liability insurance.
You can email a current copy of your hygiene license, current CPR, and professional liability insurance to healthcare@cod.edu.  You can also bring this information with you to class on the first day.  Please let us know how you will be submitting this information.  
There is a textbook that is needed for the class.  You can purchase it from the bookstore at COD or locate it on your own.  The book is: Handbook of Local Anesthesia, 7th edition 2019; Stanley F. Malamed, author; Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, publisher, Paperback ISBN: 9780323582070, Paperback ISBN: 9780323676861, eBook ISBN: 9780323582094.
Each participate must follow OSHA guidelines for infection control and use of clinical Personal Protective Equipment, including mask, gloves, eyewear and clinical gown or lab coat. Come in your scrub uniform each day of class.
Yes, you need to be available all four class sessions to successfully complete the course. Please arrive and be ready for class to start at 8 a.m. sharp.
On the main campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137). We will be in the Health and Science Center in the Dental Hygiene lab (HSC Room 1122).
Yes, but plan ahead in case the school cafeteria is closed.
If you successfully complete all components of the course, you will be provided an award of completion.  The certificates will be send to you electronically upon completion of the course.  While this course follows the Illinois Dental Practice Act, we do not currently offer CEUs for it.

Contact Information

Continuing Education
Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 1110
(630) 942-2208
Fax: (630) 942-3785
Email: CE@cod.edu

Front Desk Hours
  • Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Office hours may vary due to holidays and staff coverage.