Dental Hygiene - DH

This course is designed to introduce students to the research process and how it applies to evidence-based patient care. Emphasis is on research design and methods, scientific databases and evidence-based strategies. Application of research methods and statistical techniques to the critical evaluation of current scientific literature will be addressed. Evidence-based decision making and development of critical thinking skills will be discussed.

This course has a clinical and seminar component. The clinical component is designed to focus on application of clinical practice including, infection and exposure control, sterilization, ergonomics, emergency care, oral prophylaxis, patient medical/dental assessment, extra/intra oral assessment, caries and periodontal risk assessments, periodontal and dental charting, nutrition and diet counseling, oral hygiene education, digital/radiography imaging, inspection of teeth, dental hygiene diagnosis and care planning, instrumentation skills and techniques, patient management, health promotion and disease prevention, patient scheduling, re-care systems, documenting manual and electronic information in a dental software system. The seminar component focuses on research, patient case presentations, clinic journal reflections, continuation of electronic portfolio from first semester, and discussions and review of clinical policies, processes and procedures.

The focus of Periodontic Principles I is on advanced instrumentation, ultrasonic devices, root planing, gingival curettage, subgingival irrigation, hypersensitivity treatment, instrument sharpening and care, care of dental implants and oral prostheses, and other adjunctive treatments.

DH 312 is designed to assist students in recognizing pathological processes and differentiating the normal from the abnormal by providing the fundamentals of gross pathology of disease, healing, repair and regression in the oral cavity and human body. The focus is on the role of the dental hygienist in recognizing deviations from normal, documentation, differential diagnosis, patient education on prevention, early detection and referral.

A study of drugs by groups with special emphasis on those used in dentistry including their physical and chemical properties, dosage and therapeutic effects.

Administration of local anesthetics and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia. Pharmacological agents, physical and emotional evaluation of patients, anatomy and neurophysiology. Management of related medical emergencies. (2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.)

Fundamental principles of periodontics, etiology, histo-pathology, classification of gingival and periodontal diseases, assessment, prevention and non-surgical treatment.

Anatomy of the head and neck with emphasis on structure and physiology of the oral cavity.

First in a series of two capstone courses. Students will work in groups of two or three. This course will focus on the introduction to the capstone project and evaluation of scientific, evidence-based literature, and ethical research methods. Basic research design components and writing skills will be reviewed. Projects could potentially involve but are not limited to clinical research, interprofessional collaboration, public health, or education. Students will design a six-minute PowerPoint presentation on a topic of interest related to dental public health.

This course provides the foundation for critical decision making in the management of medically compromised patients during oral health care treatment within the integrated healthcare system, with a special emphasis on the geriatric patient. The major focus is on precautions and treatment modifications needed to safely treat patients with physical or mental complications and protocols for preventing and managing medical emergencies.