DHY Dental Hygiene (DHY)

This course addresses orofacial embryological development, histologic characteristics of the orofacial organs, gross anatomy and physiology of the head, neck, and oral regions, and tooth morphology.

This course is designed to introduce the student to fundamental knowledge of radiographic principles and safety considerations. Skill development in image production, mounting techniques and radiographic interpretation is emphasized.

Introduction to the etiology, diagnosis, and prevention of diseases affecting the tissues that support, attach, and surround the teeth. Basic periodontic terminology and concepts utilized for dental hygiene care to include patient periodontal assessment and treatment modalities. Term and concepts applied in the clinical setting in DHY 133.

Course design covers fundamental knowledge of the dental materials commonly used in contemporary dental practice including their physical, chemical and manipulative characteristics. Skill development in correctly using these materials is emphasized.

Diseases of development and growth including neoplasms, diseases of microbial origin, injury and repair, disturbances of metabolism and diseases of specific systems is presented.

An introduction to dentistry, the dental hygiene profession, and ethical and professional patient care, terminology and basic skills utilized in the contemporary practice of dental hygiene, including infection control procedures and patient assessment and treatment are covered. Concepts are applied in a preclinical setting with manikins and student partners.

This course builds on dental hygiene fundamentals, focusing on comprehensive care planning and managing patients with special needs. Topics include individualized care plans, cultural and medical considerations, implant and appliance care, magnetostrictive and piezoelectric scaler use, instrument sharpening, and emergency management.

This course provides supervised clinical experiences to introduce fundamental dental hygiene skills, including infection control, patient assessment, treatment planning, and instrumentation. Emphasizing professionalism and compliance with clinical protocols, students will also gain experience in patient education, documentation, and emergency preparedness.

This supervised clinical course further enhances dental hygiene skills through hands-on patient care, emphasizing patient management, time efficiency, emergency response, communication, and professionalism to prepare students for high-quality clinical practice.

Basic concepts of nutrition and the effects on general as well as oral health are presented. The role of nutrition in dentistry for disease prevention and health promotion is emphasized. Dietary analysis and counseling methodologies are discussed and practiced.

General principles of drug regulation and prescribing, action and handling and adverse reactions is covered. Body systems, medical histories and their impact on drugs used in dentistry and their potential to alter dental treatment is discussed. Drugs used to manage medical emergencies are emphasized.

This course focuses on program planning models, incorporation of research methods into program development and evaluation and offers practical application of community health concepts. Concepts of research design and methodology in community program planning are discussed. Learning experiences emphasize reading and reviewing scientific literature, understanding statistical reporting and the levels of public health prevention and administration. Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the oral health of various populations in a community setting are presented. Field experience required.

The fundamentals of periodontics are reinforced and clinical assessment, disease classification, and treatment options are discussed using clinical case applications. Current advances in periodontal research and therapy is presented including oral-systemic connections.

This course will teach the basic concepts of anesthesia and pain control as they relate to patient management in the provision of comprehensive dental hygiene care. Lecture will focus on theory of pain control, selection of pain control modalities and implications of local anesthesia. Topics will utilize knowledge and review of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. Lab includes competency based practice of the administration of pain control modalities.

This course is designed to further explore treatment modalities and dental hygiene services such as oral health indices and supplemental care procedures. It focuses on the incorporation of all phases of assessment and development of more complex dental hygiene care plans and case presentations focusing on individual patient care. Required lab performed in the clinical setting with manikins and student partners include ultrasonic/sonic instrumentation, air polishing, suture removal, periodontal dressing placement, and advanced instrumentation techniques.

Supervised clinical patient care experiences which refine fundamentals, correlate with, and allow application of, dental hygiene procedures and lecture concepts presented in Dental Hygiene Theory II. Emphasis on total patient care and treatment planning, including judgment and decision-making. Off site clinical experiences required.

The course further explores treatment modalities and adjunct procedures. The course focuses on transitions to practice including principles of office management, jurisprudence, ethics and current issues in dental hygiene.

Supervised clinical patient care experiences that correlate with, and allow application of, dental hygiene procedures and lecture concepts presented in Dental Hygiene Theory III. Development of proficiency in implementing treatment plans to meet individual patient's oral health needs. Emphasis on self-evaluation and quality assurance.