DH

This course is designed to develop basic introductory skills that will be used while providing dental hygiene care in a clinical setting. These skills include infection control, medical/dental histories, vital signs, extraoral and intraoral examination, examination and charting of hard and soft tissues, preventive dentistry, ergonomics, instrumentation, polishing, and fluorides.

This course is designed to build on the basic skills acquired in the preclinic course taught in the first term. This course is also taught to aid the student in incorporating higher order thinking skills. The skills in this course include pain and anxiety control, nitrous safety and protocol, advanced instrumentation, power-driven scaling, ultrasonic fundamentals and implant maintenance.

This course provides essential theory, techniques, and radiation basics needed in the dental practice. Focus includes equipment, film processing, mounting, interpretation, and basic techniques. The course also includes the technical aspects of radiation exposure, monitoring, and safety.

This course introduces the Dental Hygienist to a variety of dental materials used in the dental office. It focuses on history, composition, properties, and uses of materials, as well as techniques of manipulation and how this assists the hygienist in a professional capacity. This course enhances the ability of the student to make judgments in a clinic or office regarding the use of dental materials with consideration of how they react in the oral cavity.

This course addresses the basic facts of dental anatomy and tooth morphology and offers an introduction to dental terminology. Course content includes histology of enamel, dentin, pulp, periodontal membrane, alveolar bone, oral mucosa, epithelial attachment, and salivary glands.

This course deals with cells and tissues of the body, focusing on those tissues composing the head, neck, and oral cavity. Emphasis is placed on dental histology, embryology, general histology, and healing and repair in the oral structures.

This course is developed for the student to obtain new information regarding assessment and management of emergencies in a dental office.

This course will provide the opportunity for the student to continue the development of clinical skills necessary to perform the duties of a dental hygienist. Topics will include principles learned in DH101 and DH102, continuance of treating the patients with special needs.

In this course, the student continues to practice and refine clinical skills and techniques. The lecture series within DH202 will emphasize the evidence-based process as it relates to dental hygiene theory and practice. The student will be exposed to the basic process of critical evaluation of research articles and the writing of specific components of a research project. Assignments are designed to challenge the student to develop basic research skills and techniques.

This course will provide information and will study periodontal anatomy, normal periodontal tissues, etiology, pathology, and clinical manifestations of periodontal disease. It will address periodontal therapy, including preventive, surgical and nonsurgical methods. Specific topics will include periodontal disease complexity, prevention of the disease, treatment, drug therapy and osseous integration.

Study of pharmacology as it affects the clinical practice of dental hygiene. Emphasis is on the drugs and drug groups most commonly used in dentistry. Oral manifestations of drugs prescribed for the dental patients are addressed.

This course is developed for second-year students to obtain new information regarding dental hygiene procedures or practice. Focus on advanced student presentation evaluation. Special emphasis is on presentation and discussion of such topics as case histories, treatment plans, and preventive measures.

Basic principles of chemistry, biochemistry, and nutrition in health and disease with emphasis on the relationship between nutrition and dental caries or periodontal disease. Focus is on nutritional counseling in preventive dentistry.

This course introduces students to a variety of roles within a dental practice. Techniques of other personnel and professionals within the scope of practice will be introduced. This course enhances the ability of the student to make judgments in a clinic or office regarding the roles of other dental team members. Students learn to step from the traditional role of hygienist into other roles as needed by the employer/dentist.

Integration of basic dental public health procedures and dental health instruction as they apply in clinical and community settings. Topics include fluoridation, dental sealants, dental screenings, planning and operation of community health programs, and dental health promotion and education activities.

This course covers the fundamentals of law and ethics for healthcare careers. It concentrates on workplace liabilities and legalities, the law and court system, malpractice, medical records, and informed consented bioethics. Other components of this course will be surveyed briefly through the semester.

This course is designed to give students the necessary knowledge and practice to successfully take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

This course provides students with practical information to aid in the diagnosis of oral injury and disease. The focus is on etiology, clinical features, treatment, and prognosis.

In this course, the student continues to refine clinical techniques and skills. The focus of this class is individual case studies. This class will also provide an overview of dental specialties. Upon completion of this course, the student should be deemed competent in all aspects of dental hygiene clinical care.