This course is designed to introduce 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 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.
In this course, the students will utilize dental practice management software for electronic data collection, as well as financial and treatment record keeping. In this course, the students will identify the responsibilities of the dental hygienist within a dental practice. The students will recognize the complexity of patient care as it applies to creating and understanding concept maps. The students will discuss and propose a plan to use calendars, time management, prioritizing and organizational skills to increase productivity.
This introduces students to employ critical decision-making skills to reach conclusions about the patient’s needs related to oral health and disease that fall within the dental hygiene scope of practice. Students will learn how to work with the dentist to integrate their respective diagnoses and treatment plans into a single comprehensive plan that requires a full spectrum of professional knowledge, skills and judgments. This collaborative relationship between the dental hygienist and dentist ensures that the comprehensive treatment needs of the patient will be identified, evaluated and addressed.
This course will cover periodontal anatomy, normal periodontal tissues, etiology, pathology, and clinical manifestations of periodontal disease. It will also address periodontal therapy, including preventive, surgical and non-surgical methods. Specific topics will include periodontal disease complexity, prevention of the disease, treatment, drug therapy, and osseous integration.
This course is developed for second-year students to obtain new information regarding dental hygiene procedures or practice. The focus is 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.
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 throughout the semester.
This course provides an understanding of cultural diversity in the U.S. workforce, emphasizing practical guidelines for incorporating cultural understanding in public health settings with respect to issues of health disparities in the United States. Topics include cultural differences in the healthcare workplace, valuing and managing diversity, and the development and implementation of culturally appropriate programs.
This course is designed to give students the necessary knowledge and practice to successfully take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
