Patricia Belmonte
Program Coordinator
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Program Guide

Dental Hygiene Information Sheet



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DENTAL HYGIENE 1101 Principles in Dental Hygiene I 3 credit hours Principles of disease transmission. Infection control policies, patient procedures, patient assessment and fundamental instrumentation for the dental hygienist. Foundation of knowledge and strategies of preventive dental hygiene practice. Emphasis on mechanical and chemical plaque control, use of fluoride and health promotion. Prerequisite: Admission into the Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor (3 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1102 Principles in Dental Hygiene II 2 credit hours Rationale for collection of assessment data and associated clinical procedures. Data collection. Use of instruments, dental sealants, topical fluorides, development of dental hygiene treatment plans. Introduction to direct patient care. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1101 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1105 Dental Materials/Expanded Functions 3 credit hours Physical and chemical properties of dental materials, characteristics and manipulation of impression materials, gypsum products, investments, waxes, cements, resins, metallic and non-metallic restorative agents. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Dental Hygiene 1101, 1120, 1115, 1125 and 1135 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours, 3 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1112 Dental Radiology I 2 credit hours Concepts of radiation history, radiation physics, radiation biology, radiation protection, dental X-ray equipment, film, image characteristics and film processing. Introduction to radiographic examination techniques. Prerequisite: Admission to Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1115 Dental Tooth Anatomy and Morphology 2 credit hours Emphasis on clinical appearance of oral structures, dental terminology, morphology of the permanent and primary dentition, patterns, and the occlusion and malocclusion within and between the dental arches. Review of dental anomalies and other clinical appearances. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1120 Preclinical Dental Hygiene I 1 credit hour Integration of the scientific and clinical principles underlying the practice of dental hygiene. Clinical procedures and techniques for patient assessment, including: prevention of disease transmission, health history, extra and intraoral examination, gingival evaluation and periodontal examination. Operation of the dental unit and basic instrumentation techniques for the removal of plaque and calculus are presented. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor

DENTAL HYGIENE 1121 Clinical Dental Hygiene I 1 credit hour Comprehensive examination procedures, charting and patient treatment. Adjunctive procedures are presented, dental caries preventive agent application and stain removal procedures. Integration of scientific and clinical principles underlying the practice of dental hygiene. Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating dental hygiene care on patients in the clinical setting. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1120 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor

DENTAL HYGIENE 1125 Head and Neck Anatomy: Histology and Embryology 2 credit hours Organization, structure and function of the head and neck. Focus will be placed on histologic and embryologic development and structural microanatomy to gain an understanding of clinical and oral manifestations of the regions of the head and neck. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1135 Applied Nutrition and Biochemistry for the Dental Hygienist 2 credit hours Principles of nutrition and biochemistry applied to dental hygiene patient care. Skills in diet analysis and patient counseling. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dental Hygiene program or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1136 General and Oral Pathology 2 credit hours Pathology of the head and neck and oral structures. Specific pathologic processes, repair, healing and regressive changes. Developmental conditions, diseases of bacterial and viral origin, and neoplasms of the oral cavity. Prerequisites: Dental Hygiene 1101, 1115, 1120, 1125 and 1135 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1145 Medical Emergencies in a Dental Office 1 credit hour Familiarity with critical steps in prevention, preparation, early recognition and appropriate management of common medical emergencies in the dental office. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1101, 1115, 1120, 1124 and 1135 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (1 lecture hour)

DENTAL HYGIENE 1840 Independent Study – Individualized 1 to 4 credit hours Exploration and analysis of topics within the discipline to meet individual student-defined course description, goals, objectives, topical outline, and methods of evaluation in coordination with, and approved by the instructor. May be taken three times for credit as long as different topics are selected. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (1-4 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2201 Dental Hygiene Theory I 2 credit hours Application of dental hygiene theory to direct patient care. Techniques and theory related to local anesthesia administration of local anesthetic agents. Emphasis of dental hygiene care of patients with various systemic, mental and physical disorders in the dental office setting. Introduction to use of heavy scaling hand instruments is included. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1102 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2202 Dental Hygiene Theory II 2 credit hours Application of dental hygiene theory to direct patient care. Overview of dental hygiene care of patients with various systemic and mental disorders. Presentation of periodontal cases is included. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2201 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2211 Periodontics I 2 credit hours Periodontal anatomy. Physiology/etiology of periodontal diseases. Clinical, histopathogenesis of gingivitis/periodontitis. Role of genetics, tobacco use and systemic preventative/therapeutic procedures associated with diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and initial phase of periodontal therapy. Prerequisites: Dental Hygiene 1102, 1105, 1112, 1121, 1135 and 1145 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2212 Periodontics II 2 credit hours Description of clinical procedures associated with surgical phase of periodontal therapy. Evaluation of periodontal treatment, maintenance phase, ad relationship between periodontics and other dental specialties. Discussion of clinical management of the periodontum and adjunctive therapies. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2211 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2213 Dental Radiology II 2 credit hours Advanced dental radiographic and related procedures including exposure and technique errors, occlusal and localization techniques, normal anatomy, panoramic films and radiography, extraoral radiography and digital radiography. Radiography for patients with special needs, introduction to radiographic interpretation: dental caries, periodontal disease, trauma and pulpal and periapical lesions. Introduction to forensic odontology. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1112 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (1 lecture hour, 3 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2222 Clinical Dental Hygiene II 2 credit hours Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments and dental radiographs. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 1121 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor

DENTAL HYGIENE 2223 Clinical Dental Hygiene III 2 credit hours Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments, amalgam polishing, application of desensitizing agents and dental radiographs. Introduction to outside rotational experiences. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2222 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor

DENTAL HYGIENE 2224 Clinical Dental Hygiene IV 2 credit hours Continuation of clinical dental hygiene practice. Includes assessment, planning and implementation of patient care. Adjunctive clinical services include dental sealants, ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, topical fluoride treatments, amalgam polishing, application of desensitizing agents and dental radiographs. Administration of topical and local anesthetic agents. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2223 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor

DENTAL HYGIENE 2225 Review of Dental Literature 1 credit hour Review and evaluation of dental literature for the contemporary dental hygienist. Focus on research methodologies and statistical analysis as it applies to dentistry. (1 lecture hour)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2232 Community Dental Health I 2 credit hours Dental hygienist’s role in community. Epidemiological concepts, trends in oral diseases, research assessment tools, and strategies to improve public assess to oral health care. Review of biostatistics, federal and state agencies, and managed care. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2225 with grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2233 Community Dental Health II 2 credit hours Creation, implementation, and evaluation of a dental health care program in the community. Presentation of projects to faculty and peers. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2232 or grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (6 lab hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2235 Dental Pharmacology and Local Anesthetics 2 credit hours Classifications and varieties of drugs, pharmacologic effects, adverse reactions, usual indications and contraindications. Discussion of drugs utilized to treat common diseases. Pharmacokinetics of local and general anesthetic agents, and their use. Prerequisites: Dental Hygiene 1115, 1125, 1135, 1136, 2211, and 2222 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

DENTAL HYGIENE 2245 Ethics and Jurisprudence: Practice Management for the Dental Hygienist 2 credit hours Preparation for professional role as health care provider and member of dental health team. Focus on ethical and legal responsibilities, dental practice act, malpractice issues, and scope of dental hygiene practice. Prerequisite: Dental Hygiene 2201 and 2222 with a grade of “C” or better or consent of instructor (2 lecture hours)

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