Introduction to the practice and profession of dental hygiene. Emphasis on communication skills, dental terminology, and patient education. Includes overview of the head and neck examination, prevention of oral disease, and infection control.

Orientation for second year dental hygiene students. This course will prepare students for the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam through computerized testing with case based and didactic questions. This course will also review clinical requirements for graduation, patient scheduling, mock boards and the regional clinical board exam.

Orientation for second year dental hygiene students focusing on patient management and scheduling. Treatment of periodontal patients is also addressed, with emphasis on dental hygiene treatment including adjunct therapy considerations. Clinical requirements and required competency forms are also reviewed.

Orientation to the dental hygiene program to include information regarding scheduling, course requirements, financial aid considerations, program policies and procedures as well as core competencies.

Oral pathology and dysfunctions of systems of the body which directly affect the oral cavity. Significance of oral and general pathology in relationship to treatment by the dental hygienist. Relationship of oral and general pathology related to the disease process.

DHYG52B is a continuation of DHYG52A. Research-based comprehensive periodontal therapy. Focus on systemic diseases and their relationship to periodontal disease and adjunct periodontal treatment modalities through the use of evidence-based research and case studies.

Normal periodontium and the deviations from health, with emphasis on the hygienist's responsibility in examination, data collection and recognition of disease. Dental Hygiene therapy for periodontal disease prevention, active case management and maintenance programs. Contributing factors to disease process and case management. Decision-making for patient referral to the periodontal specialist.

Sources, dosages, therapeutic action, and side effects of drugs used in dentistry and dental hygiene. Includes legal and ethical aspects of drug usage.

General, specialty, preventive and restorative materials will be covered, with focus on components, properties, classification and manipulation of specific materials. Lab activities designed to prepare student for use of materials within the dental setting.

Continuation of Dental Hygiene 56A. Emphasis is on the role of the dental hygienist in health promotion and health communication. Focus is on the implementation and evaluation of a community health project, epidemiology, research and social responsibility. Benefits and public concerns related to community water fluoridation.

DHYG 56A introduces concepts related to the study of community oral health. Students will be introduced to Healthy People 2020 and those populations which experience greater levels of disease. Discussions will also include dental indices used in biostatistics, and related research methodologies. Additional factors include understanding concepts related to health inequities, and the role of the dental hygienist in increasing access to oral health care.

Dental hygiene advanced clinical functions including clinical practice in administration of local anesthetics, topical anesthetic agents, nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia and soft tissue curettage.

Dental office practices based on sound dental economics, legal and ethical framework of the State Dental Practice Act, and patient needs and services.

Development and anatomical structures of the head and neck, oral cavity and dentition. Tooth identification including: tooth anatomy, eruption patterns, tooth numbering systems, anomalies, and occlusion. Restorative considerations and classifications.

Supplemental instruction on the development and anatomical structures of the head and neck, oral cavity and dentition. Tooth identification including: tooth anatomy, eruption patterns, tooth numbering systems, anomalies, and occlusion. Restorative considerations and classifications.

Supplemental instruction on the embryology of the head, neck and oral cavity, structure and function of the oral cavity and adjacent structures. Emphasis on the recognition of normal structures, the anatomical relationships between structures and regional osteology.

Anatomy of the head, neck and oral cavity, including anatomical nomenclature. Emphasis on structure and function of the oral cavity with a focus on normal anatomy and their structures. Identification of landmarks, including musculature, skeletal system, nervous system and vasculature, related to the administration of local anesthesia. Source and spread of dental infection in relation to the fascial spaces the lymphatic system.

Continued development of the principles of assessment in dental hygiene care. Prevention, non-surgical periodontal therapy and maintenance through application of the Dental Hygiene process, including assessment, planning, goal setting, implementing and evaluation used in providing dental hygiene care. Emphasis on evaluation of dental hygiene care as an essential component of the dental hygiene process.

Educational techniques and technical skills used to assist individuals and groups in becoming integrally involved in their dental/oral health care. Information and application of information related to oral health care, oral health promotion and disease prevention.

Supplemental instruction in the use of dental hygiene instruments. Emphasis on instrumentation techniques including the use of fulcrum options, modified pen grasp, and direct and indirect vision.

Laboratory and clinical experiences in patient assessment, dental hygiene care planning, goal setting and implementation of instrumentation techniques for providing prevention- oriented dental care and non-surgical periodontal therapy. Emphasis on post-treatment evaluation. Application of theory to the treatment of clinical patients.

Continuation of laboratory and clinical experiences in patient assessment with emphasis on dental hygiene care planning, goal setting and implementation of instrumentation techniques for providing prevention-oriented dental care and non-surgical periodontal therapy. Emphasis on post-treatment evaluation. Introduction to the technical skills and procedures used in the clinical practice of dental hygiene.

Lecture experiences in advanced instrumentation techniques; workshops on recognizing patients’ medical needs and their relationship to dental treatment.

Implementation of problem solving techniques, through the formulation of a research question, implementation of basic research methods, and presentation of findings. Providing patient education through evidence based finding. Development of a written critical review of an oral health based topic. Identification of effective environments and strategies for learning.

Continuation of clinical experience in exposing Xrays, self-assessment of surveys; principles of Panographic radiology; occlusal and pedodontic surveys; emphasis on radiographic interpretative skills.

Introduction to principles of radiography, radiation safety, operation of x-ray equipment, infection control procedures and hazardous waste maintenance. Practice in placement and technique for diagnostic images.

Prevention, recognition and management of medical emergencies that occur in the dental setting. Utilization of patient interview, vitals and thorough review of medical history to identify patients with pre-existing conditions/risk levels. Discussion of protocols to reduce patient risk for medical emergency. Identification of medical emergency equipment, medications commonly used for prevention/treatment of a medical emergency.

Advanced clinical topics with discussion in patient management, ergonomics, clinical boards, licensure, employment, lasers in dentistry and insurance CDT codes. This course includes guest speakers on various topics and preparation for the work industry.

The focus of this course are patient care competencies in providing dental hygiene care for the child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient. Students will assess the treatment needs of patients and modify procedures as needed in order to provide effective dental hygiene treatment.

Continuation of clinical experience with a variety of clinical cases of adults and children to include a broad spectrum of clinical applications.

Continuation of clinical experience in performing dental hygiene therapy with emphasis on the young child and periodontal patient; patient education in prevention and control of dental disease and emergency procedures.

Discussion and analysis of case-based clinical situations. Case studies addressing client care, protocol and advanced clinical techniques. Exploration of and education in cultural and linguistic competence.

Discussion and analysis of complex case-based clinical situations. Ethical, legal decision making, occupational standards and incident reporting in the clinical setting. Review of materials pertaining to the National Dental Hygiene Board and the Clinical State Licensing exams.

Dental Hygiene therapy with emphasis on the management of patients with special needs. Management of this population will include current clinical in-office strategies, as well as applications of mobile dentistry and teledentistry technology.