Dental Hygiene

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.

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

Focuses on the study of the theory of radiology, the techniques of film exposure, processing, mounting and interpretation. Radiation dosage and hazards as well as protection services for patient and operator are emphasized

Focuses on the study of the theory of radiology, the techniques of film exposure, processing, mounting and interpretation. Radiation dosage and hazards as well as protection services for patient and operator are emphasized

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 is the first in a two course sequence for second year dental hygiene students and is designed to introduce healthcare students to inter-professional education (IPE) and collaborative practice and the evidence base that supports its effectiveness. The students will actively work within inter-professional student teams focusing on understanding professions' roles and responsibilities, scope of practice and a collaborative approach to patient-centered care. An emphasis will be on the impact of culture on healthcare delivery, respectful team interaction, effective communication and evidence-based practice.

DH 407 is the first in a series of two courses in the study of community dental health problems and disparities within the integrated health care system. (DH 417 Community Dental Health is the continuation.) The main focus is on local, state, and federal public health agencies, dental hygiene public health career options, the epidemiology of oral diseases, public prevention programs and measures, evaluation of research design and scientific literature and statistical data related to public health, methods of assessing the oral health status and needs of a population, with an emphasis on designing oral health educational programs/materials for a population based on their needs.

A continuation of Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice I. Clinical practice in application of the following: 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 technique, patient management, pain management, health promotion and disease prevention, patient scheduling, re-care and manual and electronic documentation in a dental software system; with increased levels of achievement in all dental hygiene skills.

Introduction into the physical properties of dental materials, including laboratory experience in manipulation and preparation of dental materials commonly used in dental practice.

Must be taken concurrently with DH 304 Dental Hygiene Theory I. This course focuses on clinical application processes which include infectious diseases, infection and exposure control. Concept and skill application to include sterilization, dental unit operation and maintenance, ergonomics, patient medical/dental history assessment, patient vitals, emergency care, basic instrument design, principles of instrumentation techniques, dental , extra/intra-oral assessment, introduction to periodontal and dental charting, inspection of teeth, dental hygiene diagnosis and care planning, oral prophylaxis, disclosing, coronal polishing, fluoride application, patient management, time management, documenting manual and electronic information in a dental software system. Students are required to pass instrumentation proficiencies on a typodont, prior to applying their instrumentation skills on a student classmate. Students will be required to bring in two patients for assessments, building upon their skill level. An instrumentation practicum exam will be required as part of the exit exam to move into DH 315 Clinical Practice I.